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day she avoided the espresso coffeehouse where she usually lunched with a group of other models, and went instead to a quieter restaurant where the customers were mostly suburban housewives up for a day’s shopping and she was not likely to meet anyone she knew. Justin had given her three days to make her decision, and the time seemed to be passing very swiftly. Toying with her apple tart, she wondered what it would be like to be married to him.
    Suppose that after they were married he revealed traits that she had not seen before?
    Once before she had gambled her future, but this time the stakes were terrifyingly high, and if she lost she would have to pay for her misjudgment for the rest of her life. On the other hand, if Justin proved to be a difficult husband, she would have the compensation of li v ing in luxurious surroundings with no more anxiety for the future. There was even the possibility that they might be happy together.
    All that day and the next day she was torn with indecision, and it was not until late that night that she made up her mind.
    As she dialed Justin’s telephone number her hands were trembling and she felt very cold. Hubbard answered the telephone. She recognized his soft, rather quavery voice.
    “Is Mr. Templar in, please? This is Miss Fleming speaking.”
    “Will you hold the line, madam?”
    It seemed an eternity before she heard the click of the extension receiver being lifted. Then Justin’s voice said, “Andrea?”
    Her mouth was dry and there was a lump in her throat. She tried to speak but no words came.
    “Andrea? Are you there?”
    “Yes . .. Justin... ”
    “What’s the matter? Are you ill?”
    She took a grip on herself.
    “No, nothing’s the matter. I’m quite all right.”
    “You sounded so odd.”
    “Justin, I’ve made up my mind. If you’re sure you want me, I will marry you.”
    It came out in a rush, and the minute she had said it she felt a queer upsurge of relief, as if the tension within her had suddenly snapped.
    There was a short pause and then he said quietly, “I’m very glad. Thank you.”
    “I hope I haven’t interrupted you, but you asked me to let you know.”
    He made a sound that might have been a laugh.
    “No, you didn’t interrupt me. I was reading. Can I come around to see you?”
    At that nervousness quickened again.
    “I was just going to bed,” she said hastily.
    “Oh, I see. Then we’ll lunch together tomorrow. Where can I collect you?”
    “I’m not sure where I’ll be. It would be better if I met you.”
    “As you wish, Can you manage one o’clock at the Savoy?”
    “Yes. That’ll be fine.”
    “Right. If you’re free in the afternoon, we’ll look at some rings.”
    “Oh ... yes.”
    “Good night, my dear. Thank you for letting me know.”
    “Good night.”
    A moment after she had replaced the receiver she heard Jill’s key in the latch. Before she could switch on the light, Jill was in the room with Nick just behind her.
    “Hello. Why the gloom?”
    “I was dozing. Good movie?”
    “Not bad. I had some horrible child behind me who kept kicking the back of my seat. When Nick asked him to stop, his mother got frightfully worked up and complained in a loud voice about people who were always finding fault with innocent little darlings.”
    Jill turned to Nick. “Are you hungry, darling? Shall I make some scrambled eggs? ”
    It was not until they were having supper that Andrea broke the news.
    “I’m going to marry Justin,” she said suddenly.
    There was a startled silence while they digested this information, and then Jill jumped up and hugged her.
    “Andrea! How exciting! Why on earth didn’t you tell us before? When did it happen? No wonder you were mooning around in the dark. I had no idea you were really keen on him. Tell us about it.”
    “There’s not much to tell. He asked me and I accepted,” she said quietly, looking at Nick, who had not yet spoken.
    For the fraction of a second she saw that there was