and so will I, and the rest of
the world be hanged!" was what Tynemouth had said to his wife; and it
would not have occurred to him to suspect Stafford, or to read one of
his letters to Lady Tynemouth. He had no literary gifts; in truth, he
had no "culture," and he looked upon his wife's and Stafford's interest
in literature and art as a game of mystery he had never learned.
Inconsequent he thought it in his secret mind, but played by nice,
clever, possible, "livable" people; and, therefore, not to be
pooh-poohed openly or kicked out of the way. Besides, it "gave Alice
something to do, and prevented her from being lonely--and all that kind
of thing."

Thus it was that Lady Tynemouth, who had played the game all round
according to her lights, and thought no harm of what she did, or of her
weakness for Ian Stafford--of her open and rather gushing friendship
for him--had an almost honest dislike to seeing him brought into close
relations again with the woman who had dishonourably treated him.
Perhaps she wanted his friendship wholly for herself; but that selfish
consideration did not overshadow the feeling that Jasmine had cheated
at cards, as it were; and that Ian ought not to be compelled to play
with her again.

"But men, even the strongest, are so weak," she had said to Tynemouth
concerning it, and he had said in reply, "And the weakest are so
strong--sometimes."

At which she had pulled his shoulder, and had said with a delighted
laugh, "Tynie, if you say clever things like that I'll fall in love
with you."

To which he had replied: "Now, don't take advantage of a moment's
aberration, Alice; and for Heaven's sake don't fall in love wiv me" (he
made a v of a th, like Jigger). "I couldn't go to Uganda if you did."

To which she had responded, "Dear me, are you going to Uganda?" and was
told with a nod that next month he would be gone. This conversation had
occurred on the day of their arrival at Glencader; and henceforth Alice
had forcibly monopolized Stafford whenever and wherever possible. So
far, it had not been difficult, because Jasmine had, not
ostentatiously, avoided being often with Stafford. It seemed to Jasmine
that she must not see much of him alone. Still there was some new cause
to provoke his interest and draw him to herself. The Jigger episode had
done much, had altered the latitudes of their association, but the
perihelion of their natures was still far off; and she was
apprehensive, watchful, an