he had not come; nor at seven, nor at five minutes past—­he who had barely a quarter of a mile to walk!  There was surely a fate against the party!  And Rachel strangely persisted in not leaving the kitchen!  Even after Mrs. Maldon had heard her fumbling for an interminable time with the difficult window on the first-floor landing, she went back to the kitchen instead of presenting herself to her expectant mistress.

At last Rachel entered the sitting-room, faintly humming an air.  Mrs. Maldon thought that she looked self-conscious.  But Mrs. Maldon also was self-conscious, and somehow could not bring her lips to utter the name of Louis Fores to Rachel.  For the old lady had divined a connection of cause and effect between Louis Fores and the apparition of Rachel’s superlative frock.  And she did not like the connection; it troubled her, and offended the extreme nicety of her social code.

There was a constrained silence, which was broken by the lobby clock striking the first quarter after seven.  This harsh announcement on the part of the inhuman clock seemed to render the situation intolerable.  Fifteen minutes past seven, and Louis not come, and not a word of comment thereon!  Mrs. Maldon had to admit privately that she was in a high state of agitation.

Then Rachel, bending delicately to sweep the hearth with the brass-handled brush proper to it, remarked with an obvious affectation of nonchalance—­

“Your other guest’s late too.”

If Mrs. Maldon had not been able to speak his name, neither could Rachel!  Mrs. Maldon read with painful certainty all the girl’s symptoms.

“Yes, indeed!” said Mrs. Maldon.

“It’s like as if what must be!” Rachel murmured, employing a local phrase which Mrs. Maldon had ever contemned as meaningless and ungrammatical.

“Fortunately it doesn’t matter, as Julian is late too,” said Mrs. Maldon insincerely, for it was mattering very much.  “But still—­I wonder—­”

Rachel broke out upon her hesitation in a very startling manner—­

“I’ll just see if he’s coming.”

And she abruptly quitted the room, almost slamming the door.

Mrs. Maldon was dumbfounded.  Scared and attentive, she listened in a maze for the sound of the front door.  She heard it open.  But was it possible that she heard also the creak of the gate?  She sprang to the bow window with surprising activity, and pulled aside a blind, one inch....  There was Rachel tripping hatless and in her best frock down the street!  Inconceivable vision, affecting Mrs. Maldon with palpitation!  A girl so excellent, so lovable, so trustworthy, to be guilty of the wanton caprice of a minx!  Supposing Louis were to see her, to catch her in the brazen act of looking for him!  Mrs. Maldon was grieved; and her gentle sorrow for Rachel’s incalculable lapse was so dignified, affectionate, and jealous for the good repute of human nature that it mysteriously ennobled instead of degrading the young creature.