at being remembered among his probably
innumerable conquests. At that moment she felt punished for having so
often in her life betrayed the best part of her nature.

"I quite understand, Beryl. You need not explain."

"No."

There was an unpleasant silence during which neither woman looked at the
other. Then Lady Sellingworth said:

"But you haven't told me everything. And if I am to--if anything is to
be done, can be done, I suppose you had better tell me everything."

"Yes. I want to. I must. Mr.--he told Fanny that I was--that I had
promised to marry him."

"Ah!"

"He told her that I had been to his flat on the very day that I had
heard of my father's death and since. He promised Fanny that--that when
we were married she should have a home with us. Isn't that horrible?
Fanny has been afraid of my marrying because, you see, she depends in a
way on me. She doesn't want to leave me. She's got accustomed--"

"Yes--yes."

"He told her that people knew about my visits to him. Mrs. Birchington
lives in the flat opposite his, and she knows. He contrived that she
should know. I realize that now."

"A man like that lays his plans carefully."

"Yes. Oh--how humiliating it all is! Fanny was enthusiastic about him."

"What did you say?"

"I was very careful. Because I promised you! But I know she thinks--she
must think I am in love with him. But that doesn't matter. Only it makes
things difficult. But it isn't that which brought me here. I'm afraid of
him."

"Have you ever written to him?"

"No--never!"

"But you say he has written to you."

"Yes. When he left Fanny he wrote a letter in the hotel and had it sent
up to my room. Fanny gave it me just now. I've got it here."

She drew a letter out of a little bag she had brought with her.

"I--I can't show it--"

"Oh--please--I don't want to see it!" said Lady Sellingworth, with an
irrepressible shrinking of disgust.

"No, of course not. Adela, please don't think I imagined you did! But
I must tell you--I know you hate all this. You must hate it. Oh, do
forgive me for coming here! I know I oughtn't to. But I'm afraid--I'm
afraid of him!"

"Why are you so afraid? What can he do?"

"A man like that might do anything!"

"Are you sure? I think such a man is probably a coward at heart."

But Miss Van Tuyn shook her head.

"He's got nerves of steel. I am sure of it. Besides--"

She paused, and a strange conscious look came into her face--a look
which