s here come and go just like guests
in their homes. They do as they choose. The husband in England says
never--as he does in France: 'I come back, my dearest, at the first
moment possible, to assist you entertain our dear grandmamma and our
dear aunt.' No, he says that not; and the English wife she never says:
'Where have you been? It is an hour that our little Suzette demands that
the father should show her again her new picture book!' Ah, no. I find
that the English messieurs have much liberty."

"It must be deadly for men in France," said Gwendolen.

"It is always funny or deadly with Mademoiselle," replied Louise.

But she felt that she had obtained enough information of an indirect
nature to strengthen her in her suspicions that Lady Dashwood had
arranged a marriage between the Warden and Mrs. Dashwood, but that the
Warden had not played his part, and, notwithstanding his dignified
appearance, was amusing himself with both his guests in a manner
altogether reprehensible.

Ah! but it was a pity!

When Louise left the room Gwendolen went to the wardrobe, and took out
the coat that Louise had put away. She felt in the wrong pocket first,
which was empty, and then in the right one and found the ten-shilling
note. Now that she had it in her hand it seemed to her amazing that Mrs.
Potten, with her big income, should have fussed over such a small
matter. It was shabby of her.

Gwendolen took her purse out of a drawer which she always locked up.
Even if her purse only contained sixpence, she locked it up because she
took for granted that it would be "stolen."

As she put away her purse and locked the drawer a sudden and
disagreeable thought came into her mind. She would not like the Warden
to know that she was going to buy an umbrella with money that Mrs.
Potten had "thrown away." She would feel "queer" if she met him in the
hall, when she came in from buying the umbrella. Why? Well, she would!
Anyhow, she need not make up her mind yet what she would do--about the
umbrella.

Meanwhile the Warden surely would speak to her this evening, or would
write or something? Was she never, never going to be engaged?

She dressed and came down into the drawing-room. Dinner had already been
announced, and Lady Dashwood was standing and Mrs. Dashwood was
standing. Where was the Warden?

"I ought not to have to tell you to be punctual, Gwen," said Lady
Dashwood. "I expect you to be in the drawing-room before dinner is
announc