infinite pains on the forehead and rolled into one massive coil at the back of her neck.

She shook hands with a smile a smile that failed to dispel the air of fatigue and fashionable dissipation that seemed to cling to her; and then wheeled a chair as near to the fender as she could get it.

As she sat down, I thought I had never seen such splendid shoulders combined with so slight a hip before.

"Now I hope no one else will come to interrupt us," she said simply. "And don't let's bother to exchange comments on the weather nor last night's dance. I have done that six times over this morning with other callers. Don't let's talk for the sake of getting through a certain number of words. Let us talk because we are interested in what we are saying."

"I should be interested in anything if you said it," I answered.

Theodora laughed. "Tell me something about the East, will you? That is a nice warm subject, and I feel so cold."

And she shot out towards the blaze two well-made feet and ankles.

"Yes, in three weeks time I shall be in a considerably warmer climate than this," I answered, drawing my chair as close to hers as fashion permits.

Theodora looked at me with a perceptibly startled expression as I spoke.

"Are you really going out so soon?" she said.

"I am, really," I said with a smile.

"Oh, I am so sorry!"

"Why?" I asked merely.

"Because I was thinking I should have the pleasure of meeting you lots more times at different functions."