Hugh turned quickly and looked into the face of Lady Huntingford.
"Not at all," he replied.

"But how strange it seems that you should always appear like the fairy queen when I am most in need of a bracer.
Oh, I beg your pardon," he went on, rising in some perturbation.

"I forgot that there is a--a barrier between us.

War has been declared, I fear." "I am ready to make friendly overtures," she said gaily.

"Isn't there some such thing as a treaty which requires a strong power to protect its weaker ally in time of stress ?" "You mean that we may still be friends in spite of all that happened last night ?" he cried.