Page:Herbert Jenkins - The Rain Girl.djvu/213

 "Otherwise you could not drink it."

"Pleeeeease," she entreated.

"It is to a certain gate on a Surrey high-road," he said gravely, raising his glass.

"Oh!" There was disappointment in her voice. Then with a laugh she raised her glass and drank.

Later, as they were about to rise from the table Beresford said:

"But I haven't yet thanked you for asking me to dinner."

"I didn't ask you," she said rising and picking up her handkerchief. "I instructed Byles to put you here."

He bowed humbly. "May I ask why?" he enquired.

"Because it's the ninth day of your wonder, and now I'll go and get my cloak," and she led the way out of the dining-room, Beresford following, exhilarated by the sensation her every movement seemed to create among the other guests.

The moon had not yet risen. There was no wind; the night was very still. Occasionally a shout or a laugh would stab the oppressive silence, seeming to add to its density. Here and there a sudden point of flame showed the whereabouts of some man lighting a cigarette or pipe.