-off and irrelevant. She did not really want to
abolish Frances and Anthony. And yet, if they had been abolished, as
part of the deplorable institution of parentage, it would have been
better for them; for then they would not be suffering as they did.

It must be awful to have children. But perhaps they knew that it was
worth it.

And as her thoughts travelled that way they were overtaken all of a
sudden by an idea. She did not stop to ask herself what business her
idea had in that neighbourhood. She went down first thing after
breakfast and sent off two wires; one to Captain Drayton at Croft House,
Eltham; one to the same person at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich.

"Can I see you? It's about Nicky.

"DOROTHY HARRISON."

Wires to show that she was impersonal and businesslike, and that her
business was urgent. "Can I see you?" to show that he was not being
invited to see _her_. "It's about Nicky" to justify the whole
proceeding. "Dorothy Harrison" because "Dorothy" by itself was too much.

* * * * *

As soon as she had sent off her wires Dorothy felt a sense of happiness
and well-being. She had no grounds for happiness; far otherwise; her
great friendship with Rosalind Jervis was disintegrating bit by bit
owing to Rosalind's behaviour; the fiery Suffrage meeting had turned
into dust and ashes; her darling Nicky was in a nasty scrape; her father
and mother were utterly miserable; yet she was happy.

Half-way home her mind began to ask questions of its own accord.

"Supposing you had to choose between the Suffrage and Frank Drayton?"

"But I haven't got to."

"You might have. You know you might any minute. You know he hates it.
And supposing--"

But Dorothy refused to give any answer.

His wire came within the next half hour.

"Coming three sharp. FRANK."

Her sense of well-being increased almost to exaltation.

* * * * *

He arrived with punctuality at three o'clock. (He was in the gunners and
had a job at Woolwich.) She found him standing on the hearth-rug in the
drawing-room. He had blown his nose when he heard her coming, and
that meant that he was nervous. She caught him stuffing his
pocket-handkerchief (a piece of damning evidence) into his
breast-pocket.

With her knowledge of his nervousness her exaltation ceased as if it had
not been. At the sight of him it was as if the sentence hidden somewhere
in her mind--"You'll have to