‘Mrs. Mutimer has a tea-party of children from New Wanley,’ said Alice with a provoking smile.  ’Won’t you go and join them?  She’s reading to them, I believe; no doubt it’s something that would do you good.’

’Of course I will go if you send me.  I would go anywhere at your command.’

’Then please do.  Turn to the right when you get out into the garden.’

Keene stood for an instant with his eyes on the ground, then sighed deeply—­groaned, in fact—­smote his breast, and marched towards the door like a soldier at drill.  As soon as he had turned his back Alice gathered herself from the couch, and, as soon as she stood upright, called to him.

‘Mr. Keene!’

He halted and faced round.

‘You needn’t go unless you like, you know.’

He almost ran towards her.

’Just ring the bell, will you?  I want some tea, and I’ll give you a cup if you care for it.’

She took a seat, and indicated with a finger the place where he might repose.  It was at a three yards’ distance.  Then they talked as they were wont to, with much coquetry on Alice’s side, and on Keene’s always humble submissiveness tempered with glances and sighs.  They drank tea, and Keene used the opportunity of putting down his cup to take a nearer seat.

‘Miss Mutimer—­’

‘Yes?’

’Is there any hope for me?  You remember you said I was to wait a month, and I’ve waited longer.’

‘Yes, you have been very good,’ said Alice, smiling loftily.

‘Is there any hope for me?’ he repeated, with an air of encouragement.

‘Less than ever,’ was the girl’s reply, lightly given, indeed, but not to be mistaken for a jest.

’You mean that?  Come, now, you don’t really mean that?  There must be, at all events, as much hope as before.’

’There isn’t.  There never was so little hope.  There’s no hope at all, not a scrap!’

She pressed her lips and looked at him with a grave face.  He too became grave, and in a changed way.

‘I am not to take this seriously?’ he asked with bated breath.

’You are.  There’s not one scrap of hope, and it’s better you should know it.’

‘Then—­there—­there must be somebody else?’ he groaned, his distress no longer humorous.

Alice continued to look him in the face for a moment, and at length nodded twice.

‘There is somebody else?’

She nodded three times.

‘Then I’ll go.  Good-bye, Miss Mutimer.  Yes, I’ll go.’

He did not offer to shake hands, but bowed and moved away dejectedly.

‘But you’re not going back to London?’ Alice asked.

‘Yes.’

’You’d better not do that.  They’ll know you’ve called.  You’d far better stay and see Dick; don’t you think so?’

He shook his head and still moved towards the door.

‘Mr. Keene!’ Alice raised her voice.  ’Please do as I tell you.  It isn’t my fault, and I don’t see why you should pay no heed to me all at once.  Will you attend to me, Mr. Keene?’