Mrs. Davenant herself was surprised at the elaborate little dinner.
"I wish you'd dine with us every day, my dear Jack," she said.
Jack glanced demurely at Una, in time to catch the sparkle in her dark eyes.
"I'm afraid you'd soon get tired of me," he said. "But, seriously, I should improve the cooking; not this day's, I mean, but the usual ones. You've got a treasure of a cook, ma'am."
And, of course, this was carried down by Mary to the empress of the kitchen, and her majesty was rewarded for all her trouble.
"What did I tell you?" she demanded. "Master Jack knows."
Jack's appetite was always good, in love or out of it, and this evening would have been the happiest in his life but for certain twinges of conscience.
What should he say to Leonard, the faithful friend, when he got home and was asked how he had parted from Una? However, he stifled conscience--it is always easy to do that at dinner time.
"Will you have some more claret?" asked Mrs. Davenant, as she and Una prepared to leave him. "You can smoke a cigarette, if you like; but open the window afterward."
"I won't have any more claret, and I won't smoke," said Jack. "I'll just finish this glass and come with you for a cup of tea."
Five minutes of solitude spent in going over every look and word of the lovely creature he had won, were enough for Jack.
He found them seated at the window; Una in a low chair, almost at Mrs. Davenant's feet. They both looked up, as if glad to see him; and Mrs. Davenant at once rang for tea and coffee.
Una rose, and officiated with calm self-possession and accustomed ease--no one would have guessed that her acquaintance with a London drawing-room, and its accompanying forms and ceremonies, was only that of a few weeks--and brought Jack his cup.
In taking it, he tried to touch her hand, and nearly upset the cup.
"Take care, my dear Jack," said Mrs. Davenant. "Has he spoiled your dress, my dear?"
"No," said Una, her face red as a rose. "It was my fault."
"Yes; it was her fault," said Jack, significantly.
"You always were clumsy, my dear Jack," said Mrs. Davenant. "You are too big."
"I'll get myself cut down a foot or two," said Jack.
Happy! They were as happy as any two women in London, notwithstanding Jack's wickedness.