thur himself when
first her suspicions were aroused still held. She regarded a scene with
him as dangerous, for she could not be certain that a big emotional
disturbance would not throw him back into his old nature, quite apart
from the fact that it would wound her motherly heart. Against Gabrielle,
on the other hand, she knew that she could steel herself. Gabrielle was
a woman, a woman younger than herself, and, what was more, a visitor in
her house. She was satisfied that she could tell Gabrielle what she
thought of her, and, in a single interview bring this most uncomfortable
and dangerous state of affairs to an end.

She got out of bed again and dressed methodically. This time she wasn't
going to put up with any condition that detracted from her dignity. So,
having done her hair afresh and satisfied herself that all traces of her
breakdown had disappeared, she set out with a high degree of confidence
to Gabrielle's room. There was no light in it, but while she stood at
the door she heard Gabrielle softly singing to herself inside. Singing!
... Mrs. Payne hardened her heart and knocked at the door. The singing
stopped. There was no other sound. Then she knocked again. She heard a
soft rustle as Gabrielle stepped to the door. The door opened, and
Gabrielle, in her nightdress and bare feet, stood before her. She stared
at Mrs. Payne. Who could guess that she knew the reason of her visit?
She only said: "Oh ... it's you! I wondered...."

"May I come in?" said Mrs. Payne in a hard voice. As a matter of fact
nothing could have stopped her going in.

"Of course," said Gabrielle. "Do...." She shivered slightly.

"You'd better put on a dressing-gown," said Mrs. Payne firmly. "I want
to talk to you."

Gabrielle obeyed her, like a small child, slipped an embroidered kimono
over her shoulders and stood facing Mrs. Payne. She looked her straight
in the eyes, and said in a low voice: "Well, what is it?"

"We won't pretend," said Mrs. Payne. "You know quite well what it is."

"Yes ... I suppose you mean Arthur."

"And you."

"You saw us go out to-night ... heard us?"

"Yes."

Gabrielle made a gesture of impatience. "Well, why shouldn't we? It was
the nightingale. Why shouldn't we listen to a nightingale? I'd never
heard one."

"I followed you into the garden."

"That was a mean thing to do!"

"Perhaps it was. No ... I'd a right to do it. I saw everything that
happened."

"When we ki