I should have had a long drive of twenty-five miles all by myself if you hadn't been left high and dry as well." "It's very nice of you to call it luck," replied Nan, as the car slid away into the winter dusk of the afternoon.

"Are you usually a lucky person?
You look as if you might be." Under the light of the tiny electric bulb which illuminated the car she saw his face alter suddenly.

The lines on either side the sensitive mouth seemed to deepen and a weary gravity showed for an instant in his grey-blue eyes.
"Appearances are known to be deceitful, aren't they ?" he answered, with an attempt at lightness.

"No, I'm afraid I've not been specially lucky." "In love or in cards ?" The words left Nan's lips unthinkingly, almost before she was aware, and she regretted them the moment they were spoken.

She felt he must inevitably suspect her of a prying curiosity.
"I'm lucky at cards," he replied quietly.
There was something in his voice that appealed to Nan's quick, warm sympathies.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" she said, rather tremulously.