but took her face in his hands and kissed her
passionately. They arrived at Margaret's house, and she tripped up
to the door. She held out her hand to him, smiling.

'Goodnight.'

'It's dreadful to think that I must spend a dozen hours without seeing
you. When may I come?'

'Not in the morning, because I shall be too busy. Come at twelve.'

She remembered that her train started exactly at that hour. The door was
opened, and with a little wave of the hand she disappeared.

10

Susie stared without comprehension at the note that announced Margaret's
marriage. It was a _petit bleu_ sent off from the Gare du Nord, and ran
as follows:

When you receive this I shall be on my way to London. I was married to
Oliver Haddo this morning. I love him as I never loved Arthur. I have
acted in this manner because I thought I had gone too far with Arthur to
make an explanation possible. Please tell him.

MARGARET

Susie was filled with dismay. She did not know what to do nor what to
think. There was a knock at the door, and she knew it must be Arthur, for
he was expected at midday. She decided quickly that it was impossible to
break the news to him then and there. It was needful first to find out
all manner of things, and besides, it was incredible. Making up her mind,
she opened the door.

'Oh, I'm so sorry Margaret isn't here,' she said. 'A friend of hers is
ill and sent for her suddenly.'

'What a bore!' answered Arthur. 'Mrs Bloomfield as usual, I suppose?'

'Oh, you know she's been ill?'

'Margaret has spent nearly every afternoon with her for some days.'

Susie did not answer. This was the first she had heard of Mrs
Bloomfield's illness, and it was news that Margaret was in the habit
of visiting her. But her chief object at this moment was to get rid
of Arthur.

'Won't you come back at five o'clock?' she said.

'But, look here, why shouldn't we lunch together, you and I?'

'I'm very sorry, but I'm expecting somebody in.'

'Oh, all right. Then I'll come back at five.'

He nodded and went out. Susie read the brief note once more, and
asked herself if it could possibly be true. The callousness of it was
appalling. She went to Margaret's room and saw that everything was in
its place. It did not look as if the owner had gone on a journey. But
then she noticed that a number of letters had been destroyed. She opened
a drawer and found that Margaret's trinkets were gone. An idea struck
her. Margaret had bo