me his arm, I thought. But he made no attempt to do so as I walked by his side. We found dinner awaiting us. It was a very elaborate meal, with I don't know how many courses. I seemed to have come to the end of my good spirits. I did not feel inclined to talk, and as Arthur appeared to be wrapped in his own thoughts (not agreeable ones, either, if I can judge from his face) silence prevailed. It seemed strange to be sitting there at dinner with him. I felt rather sorry that he had objected to the honeymoon; I really began to wonder, now that I had seen Kew, how we could possibly amuse ourselves there for any length of time. I wondered more for his sake than for my own, as I know that to men variety is always charming.
"Elsie," said Arthur, breaking the silence at last, "do you think, dear, that you could get along without me this evening. You have Marie—and—and I must run up to town?"
My husband was very intently regarding the walnuts on his plate as he asked this question—very intently indeed.
"Of course, Arthur," I replied, quickly, 'if
