ve done but for Mr. Romaine and myself?"

"You forget, my dear," said Oliver, smoothly, "that I was never exactly
dependent on you for a livelihood. I took scholarships at school and
college, and there was a certain sum of money invested in the Funds for
my other expenses. It was perhaps not a large sum, but it was enough. I
have to thank you for some very pleasant weeks at your house during the
holidays; but there was really no necessity for you to marry Peter
Romaine in order to provide for my holidays."

She winced under his tone of banter, but did not speak. She seemed
resolved to let him say what he liked. Rosalind Romaine might not be
perfect in all relations of life, but she was certainly a good sister.

"When a few years had elapsed," her brother went on, in a light
narrative tone, "I'll grant that Romaine was of considerable service to
us. He got Francis out of several scrapes, and he shoved me into a
Government office, where the duties are not particularly onerous. Oh,
yes, I owe some thanks to Romaine."

"And none to me for marrying him?"

Oliver laughed. "My dear Rosy," he said, "I have mentioned before that I
consider you married him to please yourself."

She shrugged her shoulders, but said nothing more.

"Romaine became useful to me, of course," said Oliver, reflectively;
"and then came the first extraordinary hitch. We met the Brookes--how
many years ago--nearly twelve, I suppose; and you formed a gushing
friendship with Lady Alice Brooke and her husband, especially with her
husband."

"Why do you rake up these old stories?"

"Because I want to understand your position. You amazed me then, and you
seem more than ever disposed to amaze me now. You were attracted by
Caspar Brooke--heaven knows why! and you made no secret of the fact. You
liked the man, and he liked you. I don't know how far the friendship
went----"

"There was nothing in it but the most ordinary, innocent
acquaintanceship!"

"Lady Alice did not think so. Lady Alice made a devil of a row about it,
as far as I understand. Everyone who knows the story blames you,
Rosalind, for the quarrel and separation between husband and wife."

"It was not my fault."

"Oh, was it not? Well, perhaps not. At any rate, the husband and wife
separated quietly, twelve years ago. I don't know whether you hoped
that Brooke would give his wife any justification for her
suspicions----"

"Oliver, you are brutal! You insult me! I have never given you