COMPLETE STORY by May Somerset .sx So she invented George .sx To be young- and alone- in Paris .sx . What else could either of them do but pretend they were in love ?sx JUDY stuck it for two days .sx Then she revolted .sx And , being Judy , she decided she must do something about it .sx Coming to Paris had been the biggest thrill in all the twenty years of her life .sx She had got the chance when Mr. Cartwright's personal assistant had fallen ill at the last moment .sx Judy , who had worked under her , knew more about what this Paris conference was about than anyone else in the office- apart from Mr. Cartwright , of course .sx So , at two days' notice , she was off to Paris .sx Paris in the spring !sx With mist rising from the Seine in the early morning and the cafes gaily spilling out across the pavements in the midday sunshine .sx She could see Notre Dame from her hotel window and the Arc de Triomphe from the window of the office where the conference was being held .sx It was all fabulous .sx Walking to work , she wanted to sing .sx At lunch time she was torn between the desire to window shop and just sit at a cafe table and watch the world go by .sx It was the evenings that were the trouble .sx Strolling along the streets , exploring Montmartre or the Isle de Cite was possible only if she had company .sx Alone , it was apt to give the wrong impression .sx As Judy had found out .sx Another girl would have done ; or an aunt or uncle , father or mother .sx It didn't have to be a young man ; though , naturally , that would have been better still .sx Judy knew no one in Paris , except Mr. Cartwright , who was engaged every evening , and who was , anyway , at least sixty .sx But she certainly was not going to spend ten glorious evenings sitting in her hotel .sx So , something had to be done .sx And there was something she could do .sx At least , there was the possibility of something .sx Being Judy , that was enough .sx One other person shared the room she had been given to work in , when she was not actually in the conference chamber taking notes .sx He was the personal assistant to the leader of the other English delegation .sx His name , she knew , was Charles Hanson .sx He was tall and lean and quite heart-stoppingly handsome , or would have been if he hadn't looked so solemn all the time .sx He sat across the room from her and concentrated on his work .sx Obviously he was immune to females or , at any rate , he was intent on giving that impression .sx But he was the only possibility .sx On the third afternoon of her stay Judy was desperate at the thought of another wasted evening in front of her .sx She didn't want to scare the poor man across the room .sx Neither did she want to give him the impression that she was " that " type of girl .sx All she wanted was a companion so that she could move freely in the evenings .sx She'd make quite , quite sure there wouldn't be any misunderstanding about it .sx So she invented George .sx Well , perhaps not quite invented .sx Because there was a George at home in England and he was apt to proudly announce he was " her fellow , " and there was no need to explain that he was five years old and her nephew into the bargain .sx COMING back to the office after lunch , Judy stood at the big window for a moment before she went to her desk .sx Below , in the Champs Elysees , the cars glittered in the sun and the pedestrians were dappled by leaf shadows .sx Then , abruptly , she turned round .sx " Oh , I wish George was here .sx " " Eh ?sx " Charles Hanson was already at his desk .sx He raised his head , looking a trifle startled .sx Judy crossed to her own desk .sx " I said I wished George was here , " she repeated .sx " He- he's someone I go about with a lot in London .sx It would be so heavenly to have him to go about with here .sx What do you do with your evenings here ?sx " " Er- so far I've gone for walks .sx " " Are you going for one tonight ?sx " " I- yes , I thought of doing that .sx " " By yourself ?sx " He straightened a little .sx " Certainly by myself .sx I don't know anyone in Paris .sx " " Neither do I. That's the trouble .sx " She launched herself into her plan .sx " You see , it's all very well for you ; you can go for walks by yourself , explore anywhere you like .sx But I can't ; not alone .sx People seem to- to get the idea that I don't really want to be alone .sx " I'll go crazy if I have to spend every single evening that I'm in Paris just sitting in the hotel .sx Why , I may never get the chance to come here again .sx " It would be all right if- George was here .sx But he isn't .sx So please , when you go for your walk , may I come with you ?sx " " Good heavens !sx Do you know , I never thought of that .sx I imagined you'd have lots of friends ; be out every night .sx " " I haven't and I'm not , " she retorted .sx " I came at two days' notice , so there wasn't even time to find out if anyone I knew had friends in Paris .sx I know George hasn't .sx " She had to keep him in the foreground .sx " He's never been to Paris .sx " That was true , anyhow .sx " Wouldn't George mind if you came out with me ?sx " Judy felt her colour rising .sx Thank goodness he had no means of knowing she always did blush furiously if she had told even the tiniest and whitest of lies !sx " Well , he does rather like me to himself .sx " That , too , was true .sx " But I can't waste all my evenings here .sx I want to see so much .sx I want to go on buses and the Metro , up to Montmartre and along the Left Bank .sx I want to go on a river trip .sx " Then a thought struck her .sx She had invented George , but , after all , Charles Hanson might have someone who would prefer that he did spend his evenings in Paris in lonely solitude .sx " Of course , if you've got someone who might not like it .sx . " " Well , I don't think Peggy would take to the idea , but she isn't here , is she ?sx " Suddenly he grinned .sx " If you'll risk George finding out , I'll do the same with Peggy .sx After all , as you obviously can't go around by yourself I'd be a boor to condemn you to your hotel for the rest of your evenings in Paris .sx " So , shall we say six o'clock , providing this afternoon's conference doesn't run late .sx Still , as we'll both be there .sx . " They met at six , by the elevators on the ground floor .sx Charles grinned again as she came towards him and Judy found herself thinking that this Peggy was pretty lucky .sx Plainly , Charles was shy at first , but when his smile was so wide and friendly you just had to like him .sx As far as the evening was concerned , her plan couldn't have worked better .sx She'd been right in thinking that Paris in the evening , with a companion , would be a simply wonderful place .sx They ate in the Place de Republique and then went up to Montmartre and found a fair going on in the streets .sx They talked and laughed with all sorts of people .sx They had coffee at several different cafes .sx They looked down on the twinkling lights of Paris .sx And then they walked down the steep streets and back to her hotel .sx " It was marvellous !sx " There were stars in Judy's eyes .sx " It's exactly as I thought it would be .sx " He looked down at her .sx " You must bring George here , one day , and show it to him .sx Is he fun to be with ?sx " Because she felt such a stab of guilt she said quickly :sx " He's the greatest fun in the world .sx And I will bring him one day .sx " She'd be grey-haired by the time he was old enough and probably still a spinster .sx " Will you bring Peggy , too ?sx " she asked .sx He hesitated , then he shook his head .sx " I don't think so .sx She finds going abroad too complicated .sx She's content with Britain .sx " So Paris could stay " theirs .sx " Judy couldn't help her heart giving a little leap .sx Neither could she help the malicious little thought that Peggy sounded both drab and dreary .sx Charles was certainly neither .sx SHE took herself to task several times during the next few days , however .sx After all , she had thrust herself on to Charles when , quite obviously , he'd had every intention of staying solitarily true to Peggy .sx To do anything unfair to Peggy would be mean and despicable .sx But it was a little difficult to remember that when they were seated , shoulder to shoulder , on a boat on the Seine and there was a moon overhead .sx Neither was it easy when they walked back to her hotel and their hands touched and linked for a moment before she pulled hers away .sx " George ?sx " he asked .sx " And Peggy , " she retorted , almost sharply .sx He moved a little away from her .sx " You're right , of course .sx But it's been a good evening , hasn't it ?sx " " Wonderful .sx " It was extraordinary how it could hurt to say just one word .sx It would have been silly- and it would have admitted things she didn't want to admit if she had refused to go out with him any more .sx So at the week-end they explored further .sx They went to St Cloud and , of course , Versailles .sx The sun continued to shine and Judy wore the summer dresses she had packed with so much excitement .sx But at night , back in her hotel room , she took to standing at her window for a long time , leaning on the window sill and looking out at Paris as it slept .sx She was storing it all up in her heart .sx Though now , she knew , it would hurt unbearably every time she remembered it , and she would go on remembering it all her life .sx Perhaps Charles would remember , too , even if he did have his Peggy who never wanted to leave England .sx She certainly couldn't know what she was missing .sx Charles was lucky ; this could fade to a dream for him .sx He had someone to put in its place .sx But she- well , George , at five years old , didn't promise to be much help , even though she did love him so much .sx Rather ostentatiously she bought postcards for George everywhere they went .sx If Charles didn't like it , well , he could buy them for Peggy , couldn't he ?sx Inevitably their last day came , their last evening .sx " We're doing a show tonight , " Charles informed her masterfully .sx " And a night club afterwards .sx You're not going back to George without sampling that side of Paris night life .sx " ACTUALLY Judy didn't enjoy it very much .sx She kept remembering that tomorrow night she'd be back home , and there would be no Charles .sx It was her own fault , of course .sx She had started it all , and if she'd got hurt there was no one else to blame .sx But it was going to be lonely after tonight .sx And the loneliness seemed to have crept into her heart already .sx After they had been at the night club for some time they fell silent .sx Judy watched the dancers firmly .sx She mustn't blink or the tears in her eyes might spill over , and she knew that Charles was looking at her averted face .sx " Ready to go ?sx " He said suddenly .sx " Quite ready .sx " She rose at once .sx But when they were outside neither of them made any attempt to turn in the direction of her hotel .sx The night club was in Montmartre and , wordlessly , they walked up towards the Sacre Coeur , and then , in the shadow of the great church , they turned and looked down over Paris .sx The moon was paling ; it was almost dawn .sx Charles said softly :sx " Shall we see the sunrise ?sx Everyone should do that once .sx " So they waited , and gradually the sky turned to a pale green and then to pink and then to misty gold which seemed to envelop everything .sx Judy knew that if she made the slightest move towards Charles she would be in his arms .sx