"But it is not nearly time yet. I cannot understand why you are in such
a hurry to-day."
"Yet you know that I always go when I have done my work," she said.
"You have done unusually early then," he replied; "and I wish to
goodness I had." He looked round the room pettishly, like a schoolboy
out of temper. "I shall have to put all these things away when you're
gone--a task I hate, but nobody can do it but myself."
"Why wait till I've gone? Let me help you," said Ideala.
His countenance cleared, and they set to work merrily, he explaining
the curious histories of coins and cameos, of ancient gems, ornaments
of gold and silver, and valuable intaglios, as they returned them to
their places. Both forgot everything in the interest of the collection;
so that, when the last tray was completed, they were surprised to find
that two trains had gone while they were busy, and another had become
due, and there was only time to jump into a hansom to catch it.
Lorrimer was still irritable.
"Why on earth does a lady always carry her purse in her hand?" he said,
as they drove along.
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