ourse; but interference is futile. A man
neither loves nor ceases to love because he is told it is expected of
him, and that the conventions require it. You women who try to direct
the love-affairs of others always remind me of a certain king who
forbade the tide to come in."

"I have done my duty," said his sister stoutly. "You are going to bring
disgrace on the family. I shall certainly speak to Grace about it."

"Do, if you wish. I warn you that Grace is not so patient as I am. If
you succeed you will make mischief. You will precipitate things. That's
curious, you know--the third party who interferes with the relations
between a man and a woman can never do any good, but is able to do a
deal of harm."

Mrs Halward was not convinced. If her sister-in-law had been at home at
the time she would probably have spoken to her then. She could only
repeat that she had done her duty, and leave with dignity.

Mrs Fayre was extremely poor. Her husband held a position in China,
vaguely understood to be mercantile, and sent her one hundred pounds a
year. In addition to this she had a private income of seven hundred; but
eight hundred a year is extreme poverty when most of your friends and
acquaintances approximate to eight thousand a year. She lived in a small
flat in South Kensington, and made a business of pathos. At one time,
Mrs Halward had been enchanted with her, and it was at her house that
Rosamond and Harry Elton first met.

Harry Elton walked up and down the library, and tried to think things
out. He thought Rosamond beautiful. He liked the tone of her voice. He
liked her to be with him. Once or twice he had nearly kissed her, but he
never had kissed her, and he had never told her he loved her. There were
times when he had been on the verge of it, but had been checked by the
thought that he could not do Grace any wrong--not only because it would
hurt her, but because it would hurt himself. What was the use of laying
down stupid rules, that a man could not love two women at once? But the
rule had been laid down, and it was almost universally accepted. If a
man did love two women, it was certain that each of the women would feel
herself wronged.

He had never wanted to face the situation at all. He had been quite
willing to let things drift. His wife was not jealous. He saw Rosamond
Fayre frequently, and without any secrecy. He had interested himself in
her painting--which was abominable--and had tried to get her w