Good-by," she finished with a bright smile, as she turned and walked rapidly from the room.
Outside, on the steps, Billy drew a long breath.
"There," she whispered; "that's over--and well over!" The next minute she frowned vexedly.

She had missed her glove.

"Never mind! I sha'n't go back in there for it now, anyway," she decided.
In the living-room, five minutes later, Alice Greggory found only a hastily scrawled note waiting for her.
"If you'll forgive the unforgivable," she read "you'll forgive me for not being here when you come down.

'Circumstances over which I have no control have called me away.' May we let it go at that?
"M.

J.ARKWRIGHT." As Alice Greggory's amazed, questioning eyes left the note they fell upon the long white glove on the floor by the door.