“There is my address,” he said, taking out his card case and giving her a card; “but I fear there is little chance of my getting out of town till long after the hunting is over.”

“Oh, you must try.  At all events, come and see me.  I am at Thorne’s Hotel, Dover Street, and almost always at home about five.  But I leave town next week.”

Here the hostess sailed up, and touching Errington’s arm, said “Sir Arthur Haynes, the great authority on international law, you know, wants to be introduced to you, Mr. Errington.”

Mrs. Ormonde took the opportunity of saying good-night, and Katherine took farewell of Errington with a bow.

“Twenty-four, Sycamore Court Temple.  What a come-down for him!” said Mrs. Ormonde, looking at the card she held, when they reached the cloak-room.

“He seems cheerful enough,” said Katherine, irritated at the tone in which the observation was made; “and I thought the Temple was rather a smart place to live in.”

“I am sure I don’t know.  Come, it must be late.  What a stupid party!  How cross De Burgh looks!  I am sure he has a horrid temper.”

In the hall Captain Darrell and De Burgh awaited them.  The latter was too angry to speak.  He handed Katherine into the carriage, and uttering a brief good-night, stepped back to make way for Captain Darrell, who expressed his pleasure at having met Mrs. Ormonde, and begged to be allowed to call next day.

On the whole, Katherine felt comforted by the assurance of Errington’s friendly feeling toward her.  How cruel it was to be obliged thus to reject his kindly advances!  But it was wiser.  If she met him often, what would become of her determination to steel her heart against the extraordinary feeling he had awakened?  Besides, it could only be the wonderful patient benevolence of his nature which made him take any notice of her.  In his own mind contempt could be the only feeling she awakened.  No; the less she saw of him, the better for her.

By the time De Burgh called to escort Katherine and Mrs. Ormonde (who had dined with her) to the theatre he had conquered the extreme, though unreasonable, annoyance which had seized him on finding Errington and Katherine in apparently confidential conversation.  He exerted himself therefore to be an agreeable host with success.

A play was the amusement of all others which delighted Katherine and drew her out of herself.  De Burgh was diverted and Mrs. Ormonde half ashamed of the profound interest, the entire attention, with which she listened to the dialogue and awaited the denouement.

“I should have thought you had seen too much good acting abroad to be so delighted with this,” said Mrs. Ormonde.

“But this is excellent, and the style is so new I have to thank you, Mr. De Burgh, for a delightful evening.”

“The same to you,” he returned.  “Seeing you enjoy it so much woke me up to the merits of the thing.”