Thus, when she overheard Donnington and Bubbles talking over the arrangements for their wedding, their talk seemed to her all make-believe.
At last, however, there came the moment for which she had been longing for what seemed to her an eternity.
Miss Brabazon, Sir Lyon, and Dr.Panton were the first to go off; followed, after a few minutes' interval, Donnington, Bubbles, and the luggage.
Blanche noticed that Lionel's parting with Bubbles was particularly suave and cordial.

But the girl was not at her best.

When her host touched her, accidentally, she shrank back, and his face clouded.

And, as the motor drove off, he turned to Blanche and said discontentedly: "I wish Bubbles liked me better, Blanche!" She hardly knew what to answer, for it was true that the girl did not like Varick, and had never liked him.

Yet it seemed such a strange thing for him to trouble about that _now_.