Blanca's answer, deferred for a few seconds, was:

"Do you dislike her coming here?" asked Hilary.

"I thought from your tone you did."

"I don't dislike her coming here for that purpose."

Cecilia, dropping her quick glance to her fork, said just a little hastily: "Father is extraordinary, of course."

But the next three days Hilary was out in the afternoon when the little model came.

This, then, was the other reason, on the morning of the first of May, which made him not averse to go and visit Mrs. Hughs in Hound Street, Kensington.

FIRST PILGRIMAGE TO HOUND STREET