“Indeed, she will think nothing about it,” Dunham assured her, “except to be glad that she has the right number of guests.  Her dinners are delightful affairs usually, and you have nothing to do but talk about impersonal matters for a little while and be entertaining.  She was most insistent that you take no thought about the matter of dress.  She said it would be perfectly understood that you were travelling, and that the invitation was unexpected.  You can say that your trunk has not come, or has gone on ahead.  Will you come?”

Then the driver opened the carriage door.

In an instant the girl assumed the self-contained manner she had worn when she had first spoken to him.  She stepped quietly from the carriage, and only answered in a low voice, “I suppose I’d better, if you wish it.”

Dunham paused for a moment to give the driver a direction about carrying the great pasteboard box to his club.  This idea had come as a sudden inspiration.  He had not thought of, the necessity of getting rid of that box before.

“If it becomes necessary, where shall I say you are going this evening?” he asked in a low tone, as they turned to go up the steps.  She summoned a faint, flickering smile.

“When people have been travelling abroad and are stopping over in this city, they often go on to Washington, do they not?” she asked half shyly.

He smiled in response, and noted with pleasure that the black hat was intensely becoming.  She was not ill-dressed for the part she had to play, for the black silk rain-coat gave the touch of the traveller to her costume.

The door swung open before they could say another word, and the young man remembered that he must introduce his new friend.  As there was no further opportunity to ask her about her name, he must trust to luck.

The girl obeyed the motion of the servant and slipped up to the dressing-room as if she were a frequent guest in the house, but it was in some trepidation that Tryon Dunham removed his overcoat and arranged his necktie.  He had caught a passing glimpse of the assembled company, and knew that Mr. Bowman was growing impatient for his dinner.  His heart almost failed him now that the girl was out of sight.  What if she should not prove to be accustomed to society, after all, and should show it?  How embarrassing that would be!  He had seen her only in a half-light as yet.  How had he dared?

But it was too late now, for she was coming from the dressing-room, and Mrs. Bowman was approaching them with outstretched hands, and a welcome in her face.

“My dear Miss Remington, it is so good of you to help me out!  I can see by the first glance that it is going to be a privilege to know you.  I can’t thank you enough for waiving formalities.”

“It was very lovely of you to ask me,” said the girl, with perfect composure, “a stranger——­”

“Don’t speak of it, my dear.  Mr. Dunham’s friends are not strangers, I assure you.  Tryon, didn’t you tell her how long we have known each other?  I shall feel quite hurt if you have never mentioned me to her.  Now, come, for my cook is in the last stages of despair over the dinner.  Miss Remington, how do you manage to look so fresh and lovely after a long sea voyage?  You must tell me your secret.”