elkbridge
place (which she had long since gone into) to the house in town which
Major Perigal had been in the habit of letting, or, if a tenant were
not forthcoming, shutting up.

When she got there with Harold and Jill, she welcomed the distractions
that London life offered, and in which her husband joined so far as his
physical disability would permit. Windebank, to whom Harold took a
great liking, and Lady Ludlow introduced Mavis to their many
acquaintances. In a very short time, Mavis had more dear, devoted
friends than she knew what to do with. The women, who praised her and
her devotion "to a perfect dear of a husband" to her face, would, after
enjoying her hospitality, go away to discuss openly how soon she would
elope with Windebank, or any other man they fancied was paying her
attention.

Mavis was not a little surprised by the almost uniform behaviour of the
men who frequented her house. Old or young, rich or impecunious,
directly they perceived how comely Mavis was, and that her husband was
an invalid, did not hesitate to consider her fair game to be bagged as
soon as may be. Looks, manners, veiled words, betrayed their thoughts;
but, somehow, even the hardiest veteran amongst them did not get so far
as a declaration of love. Something in Mavis's demeanour suggested a
dispassionate summing up of their desires and limitations, in which the
latter made the former appear a trifle ridiculous, and restrained the
words that were ever on their tongues. This propensity on the part of
men who, Mavis thought, ought to know better, occasioned her much
disquiet. She confided these tribulations to Lady Ludlow's ear.

"Men are all alike all the world over," remarked the latter, on hearing
Mavis's complaint. "You can't trust 'em further than you can see 'em."

"Not all, surely," replied Mavis, thinking of the innocuous young men,
indigenous to Shepherd's Bush, whom she had so often danced with at
"Poulter's."

"Anyhow, men in our class of life are all at one on that point.
Directly they see a pretty woman, their one idea is to get hold of her."

"I wouldn't believe it, unless I'd seen for myself the truth of it."

"It's a great pity all of our sex didn't realise it; but then it would
make the untempted more morally righteous than ever," declared Lady
Ludlow.

"But if a man really and truly loves a woman--"

"That's another story altogether. A woman is always safe with the man
who loves her."

"Because his love