But Miss Mealyer was not in the dining-room.  She had perceived the advancing cab of her sworn adorer, and had thought it expedient to retreat from her domestic duties, and fortify herself among her brushes and ribbons.  Had it been possible that she should know how very weak and cowardly was the enemy against whom she was called upon to put herself in action, she might probably have fought her battle somewhat differently, and have achieved a speedy victory, at the cost of an energetic shot or two.  But she did not know.  She thought it probable that she might obtain power over him and manage him; but it did not occur to her that his legs were so weak beneath him that she might almost blow him over with a breath.  None but the worst and most heartless of women know the extent of their own power over men;—­as none but the worst and most heartless of men know the extent of their power over women.  Amelia Roper was not a good specimen of the female sex, but there were worse women than her.

“She ain’t there, Mr Eames; but you’ll see her in the drawen-room,” said the girl.  “And it’s she’ll be glad to see you back again, Mr Eames.”  But he scrupulously passed the door of the upstairs sitting-room, not even looking within it, and contrived to get himself into his own chamber without having encountered anybody.  “Here’s yer ’ot water, Mr Eames,” said the girl, coming up to him after an interval of half-an-hour, “and dinner’ll be on the table in ten minutes.  Mr Cradell is come in, and so is missus’s son.”

It was still open to him to go out and dine at some eating-house in the Strand.  He could start out, leaving word that he was engaged, and so postpone the evil hour.  He had almost made up his mind to do so, and certainly would have done it, had not the sitting-room door opened as he was on the landing-place.  The door opened, and he found himself confronting the assembled company.  First came Cradell, and leaning on his arm, I regret to say, was Mrs Lupex—­Egyptia conjux! Then there came Miss Spruce with young Roper; Amelia and her mother brought up the rear together.  There was no longer question of flight now; and poor Eames, before he knew what he was doing, was carried down into the dining-room with the rest of the company.  They were all glad to see him, and welcomed him back warmly, but he was so much beside himself that he could not ascertain whether Amelia’s voice was joined with the others.  He was already seated at table, and had before him a plate of soup, before he recognised the fact that he was sitting between Mrs Roper and Mrs Lupex.  The latter lady had separated herself from Mr Cradell as she entered the room.  “Under all the circumstances perhaps it will be better for us to be apart,” she said.  “A lady can’t make herself too safe; can she, Mrs Roper?  There’s no danger between you and me, is there, Mr Eames,—­specially when Miss Amelia is opposite?” The last words, however, were intended to be whispered into his ear.