“I was just coming down to say good-bye! Mr. Lane, what time do I come to you to-morrow? If it’s early, I _must_ go to bed now.”
“I suppose nine o’clock’s out of the question?,” Eric hazarded.
“Then won’t you let me see you home? I was telling your father that I’d work to finish. Lady Maitland, will you think me very rude if I run away? It’s so kind of you to let me come.”
“We were honoured to have you, I’m sure,” Lady Maitland answered. “And now that you have found your way here—”
“That’s too charming,” he interrupted before she could finish the dreaded sentence.
The judge said good-night warmly to his guest and less warmly to his daughter, adding, before the doors were securely closed, that Lane seemed a sensible, steady, decent young fellow.
“Eric, I thought you were never coming!,” she whispered. “My dear, you were wonderful! Mother’s in love with you! And you could hear what a success you’d been with father. Was it a very terrible evening? I didn’t notice anything except that you were there; I couldn’t see any one else. I suppose father was disapproving of me, as usual....”
She stopped speaking, as the front door was opened for them.
“We must get things right with your people somehow,” said Eric reflectively. “I think it’s awful when children don’t get on well with their parents.”
“But, my dear, is it my fault? I don’t believe father ever cared for me much, but he really hates me now.”
“If he does, it’s because he was very fond of you before... Nature’s substitute....”
Ivy slipped her arm through his and walked for some moments in silence. A taxi was on the rank by Gloucester Road Station, and they got into it.
“There’s only one substitute for love,” she whispered. “A greater love... Isn’t that true?”
“A month! But it’ll be just the same. I shall be with you every day. ‘I suppose nine o’clock’s out of the question,’” she mimicked. “I’ll come at eight or seven or six. And stay till mid-night.”
“And a nice character I should get from your father. He’s made me responsible for you, Ivy... Eaton Place. And you _have_ been happy?”
“Oh, Eric, I wish it wasn’t over! Happy!”
Eric laughed and helped her out of the taxi. Her happiness was so radiant that he felt it could not last. As he drove away he wondered whether she had been as radiant with Gaymer. Such intensity of passion was frightening; love that grew from seed to flower and fruit in a single day might die in a single night....