第84章

"She's something else，"said Henry."This won't do.I can't have her in my garden in this state.""Is she--"Margaret hesitated to add "drunk."Now that she was going to marry him，he had grown particular.He discountenanced risquéconversations now.

Henry went up to the woman.She raised her face，which gleamed in the twilight like a puff-ball.

"Madam，you will be more comfortable at the hotel，"he said sharply.

Jacky replied："If it isn't Hen！"

"Ne crois pas que le mari lui ressemble，"apologized Margaret."Il est tout àfait différent.""Henry！"she repeated，quite distinctly.

Mr.Wilcox was much annoyed."I can't congratulate you on your protégés，"he remarked.

"Hen，don't go.You do love me，dear，don't you？""Bless us，what a person！"sighed Margaret，gathering up her skirts.

Jacky pointed with her cake."You're a nice boy，you are."She yawned."There now，I love you.""Henry，I am awfully sorry."

"And pray why？"he asked，and looked at her so sternly that she feared he was ill.He seemed more scandalized than the facts demanded.

"To have brought this down on you."

"Pray don't apologize."

The voice continued.

"Why does she call you 'Hen'？"said Margaret innocently.

"Has she ever seen you before？"

"Seen Hen before！"said Jacky."Who hasn't seen Hen？He's serving you like me，my dear.These boys！

You wait--Still we love 'em."

"Are you now satisfied？"Henry asked.

Margaret began to grow frightened."I don't know what it is all about，"she said."Let's come in."But he thought she was acting.He thought he was trapped.He saw his whole life crumbling."Don't you indeed？"he said bitingly."I do.Allow me to congratulate you on the success of your plan.""This is Helen's plan，not mine."

"I now understand your interest in the Basts.

Very well thought out.I am amused at your caution，Margaret.

You are quite right--it was necessary.I am a man，and have lived a man's past.I have the honour to release you from your engagement."Still she could not understand.She knew of life's seamy side as a theory；she could not grasp it as a fact.

More words from Jacky were necessary--words unequivocal，undenied.

"So that--"burst from her，and she went indoors.

She stopped herself from saying more.

"So what？"asked Colonel Fussell，who was getting ready to start in the hall.

"We were saying--Henry and I were just having the fiercest argument，my point being--"Seizing his fur coat from a footman，she offered to help him on.He protested，and there was a playful little scene.

"No，let me do that，"said Henry，following.

"Thanks so much！You see--he has forgiven me！"The Colonel said gallantly："I don't expect there's much to forgive.

He got into the car.The ladies followed him after an interval.Maids，courier，and heavier luggage had been sent on earlier by the branch--line.Still chattering，still thanking their host and patronizing their future hostess，the guests were home away.

Then Margaret continued："So that woman has been your mistress？""You put it with your usual delicacy，"he replied.

"When，please？"

"Why？"

"When，please？"

"Ten years ago."

She left him without a word.For it was not her tragedy：it was Mrs.Wilcox's.