Jimmy looked at Ann. They were alone. Mr. Pett had gone back tobed, Mrs. Crocker to her hotel. Mr. Crocker was removing hismake-up in his room. A silence had followed their departure.

　　"This is the end of a perfect day!" said Jimmy.

　　Ann took a step towards the door.

　　"Don't go!"Ann stopped.

　　"Mr. Crocker!" she said.

　　"Jimmy," he corrected.

　　"Mr. Crocker!" repeated Ann firmly.

　　"Or Algernon, if you prefer it.""May I ask--" Ann regarded him steadily. "May I ask.""Nearly always," said Jimmy, "when people begin with that, theyare going to say something unpleasant.""May I ask why you went to all this trouble to make a fool of me?

　　Why could you not have told me who you were from the start?""Have you forgotten all the harsh things you said to me from timeto time about Jimmy Crocker? I thought that, if you knew who Iwas, you would have nothing more to do with me.""You were quite right.""Surely, though, you won't let a thing that happened five yearsago make so much difference?""I shall never forgive you!""And yet, a little while ago, when Willie's bomb was about to gooff, you flung yourself into my arms!"Ann's face flamed.

　　"I lost my balance.""Why try to recover it?"Ann bit her lip.

　　"You did a cruel, heartless thing. What does it matter how longago it was? If you were capable of it then--""Be reasonable. Don't you admit the possibility of reformation?

　　Take your own case. Five years ago you were a minor poetess. Nowyou are an amateur kidnapper--a bright, lovable girl at whoseapproach people lock up their children and sit on the key. As forme, five years ago I was a heartless brute. Now I am a soberserious business-man, specially called in by your uncle to helpjack up his tottering firm. Why not bury the dead past?

　　Besides--I don't want to praise myself, I just want to call yourattention to it--think what I have done for you. You admittedyourself that it was my influence that had revolutionised yourcharacter. But for me, you would now be doing worse than writepoetry. You would be writing _vers libre_. I saved you from that.

　　And you spurn me!""I hate you!" said Ann.

　　Jimmy went to the writing-desk and took up a small book.

　　"Put that down!""I just wanted to read you 'Love's Funeral!' It illustrates mypoint. Think of yourself as you are now, and remember that it isI who am responsible for the improvement. Here we are. 'Love'sFuneral.' 'My heart is dead. . . .' "Ann snatched the book from his hands and flung it away. It soaredup, clearing the gallery rails, and fell with a thud on thegallery floor. She stood facing him with sparkling eyes. Then shemoved away.

　　"I beg your pardon," she said stiffly. "I lost my temper.""It's your hair," said Jimmy soothingly. "You're bound to bequick-tempered with hair of that glorious red shade. You mustmarry some nice, determined fellow, blue-eyed, dark-haired,clean-shaven, about five foot eleven, with a future in business.

　　He will keep you in order.""Mr. Crocker!""Gently, of course. Kindly-lovingly. The velvet thingummy ratherthan the iron what's-its-name. But nevertheless firmly."Ann was at the door.

　　"To a girl with your ardent nature some one with whom you canquarrel is an absolute necessity of life. You and I are............