t with a resolute
air, but I was glad that I had spoken. A husband can be too unworldly,
and lost in the clouds. It would be the best thing in the world for
Delphine if he _did_ notice, and that in more ways than one!

In the afternoon Charmion and I called at the vicarage to congratulate
Delphine, and found her distinctly the worse for wear. Pale,
heavy-eyed, and inclined to snap, a very different creature from the
radiant butterfly of three days ago. She was glad to see me, however, I
was someone to snap at, which was what she wanted most at the moment,
and she worked off quite a lot of steam, hectoring me about things I
might have done better, or not done at all, and impressing on me _for_
future occasions that I should be less independent, and take more
advice. She likewise informed us, quite incidentally and "by the way,"
that Mrs Ross had disliked my hat and Mrs Bruce had asked if Charmion
were anaemic--such a colourless skin!--and Mrs Someone Else thought it
so "queer" that we should live together! Altogether she behaved like a
spoiled, ill-tempered child, but she looked so young and worried and
pretty through it all, that on the whole I felt more sorry for her than
myself. As for Charmion, she smiled, with an air of listening from an
illimitable distance, which I can quite understand has an exasperating
effect on people who do not understand and care. It exasperated
Delphine now. I saw the blue eyes flash, and the pink lips set, with a
peevish desire to "hit back!"

"Mrs Bruce said her family know the Fane family quite well. They come
from the same county. She was telling them about you, but, of course,
not knowing your husband's Christian name made it difficult. She
thought it so queer to have your own Christian name printed on your
cards--"

"Did she?" said Charmion blandly.

"It is an American custom," I put in hastily. "I should do the same if
I had such a fascinating name."

"I wouldn't!" Delphine said--"it's so queer. Unless, of course, one's
husband had a hideous name--Elisha, or Jonathan, or something like that.
Even then one might leave it out."

"I shouldn't dream of marrying anyone called Elisha."

"What was--is--your favourite man's name?"

"Jacky," said Charmion naughtily.

Delphine's eyes flashed.

"Was that your husband's name?"

"Oh no."

The pink lips opened to ask a further, more definite question, but it
died unsaid. The steady gaze of Charmion's eyes prevented