und her alone. Her black dress, simple to austerity, suggested her bereaved condition, and I was innocently astonished t

u to do anything you wouldn't

s quit

ver to Paris a

I

t I had only seen him once. I did

. "But I'm sure he's not the man to go. He'll only

little, and I felt a

husband. He doesn't know me. He'll pr

t you," said Mrs.

xactly you wa

ot answer

him a fool; he didn't understand soldiers. Fred would fly into a passion, and there'd be a quarrel, and thin

pected to tackle a case like this unless he knows all the details. I don't wan

et he isn

Strickland and sending in my card; I saw him come

o I owe th

see you abou

e of minding your own business. If you will be so good as to turn your hea

I had not returned to London till Mrs. Strickland had composed her difficulties. I stole a glan

eamed that Charlie was the sort of man to get infatuated with anyone. We always got

te know how to express myself-"who the

people see them about together, lunching or something, and her friends always come and tell the wi

I felt very sorry for her. But i

e said, drying her eyes. "The only thing i

of an Indian civilian, who on his retirement had settled in the depths of the country, but it was his habit every August to take his family to Eastbourne for change of air; and it was here, when she was twenty, that she met Charles Strickland. He was twenty-three. They played

of me, I wonder that he had the heart to leave them. It's

had written. I was curious to see it

DEAR

you and the children when you come. I shall not be there to meet you. I have made up my mind to live apart from you, and I

rs a

S STRIC

tion or regret. Don't

letter under the circ

I don't know who this woman is who's got hold of him, but she's ma

es you th

f the members, and said something about Charles being a great bridge-player. The man was surprised. He said he'd never

moment. Then I thou

difficult to explai

to town the day before they had to go back to school. I had the prese

ret in her heart, nor to give her attention to all the things that needed doing

o them, poor darlings? H

saw her hands clench and unclench sp

think I can do any good, but you must

him to c

MacAndrew that you'd made u

m that from me. He'll never be able to marry that woman. I'm as obstina

to me, but I thought it was due to a very natur

love with

nteen years. I'm a broadminded woman. I wouldn't have minded what he did as long as I knew nothing about it. He must know tha

I did not know then how great a part is played in women's life by the opinion o

nk, had taunted him with hiding his whereabouts: and Strickland, in a cynical and humourous

. Strickland. "But Fred knows it w

xurious suite of rooms, dining at one smart restaurant after another, and

derstand it in a young man, but I think it's horrible in a man of his yea

d in her breas

t him. I'd sooner kill myself. Talk to him about the past, and all we've gone through together. What am I to say to the chil

d say. She gave me elaborate answers

n for me?" she said pitifully.

elt indignant at Strickland's cold cruelty, and I promised to do all I could to bring him back. I agreed to go over on the next day but one