our life, Nigel,
and you have every reason to be happy."

"Have I? You don't know."

"Think of your children. I haven't got that pleasure, and yet I'm
happy."

"Are you madly in love with Percy?" he asked, with a smile.

"Yes, I am," she answered.

At this moment a small crowd of people came in at the door. Mary, who
was with them, looked hurriedly round the room, and seeing Bertha and
Nigel in the corner, called him, taking no notice of her.

Bertha half rose, intending to go and shake hands with her, and Nigel
quickly went to meet her, but Bertha paused, thinking Mary looked
strange. She was very pale, and the white dress she wore made her look
paler against her dull red hair. She wore a tiara, which seemed a
little crooked, and her hair was disarranged. She was pale and
trembling, but spoke in a loud voice that Bertha could hear. Within two
yards of her, she said to Nigel, gesticulating with a feather fan:

"If you don't make that woman go away at once, I shall make a public
scene!"

Bertha started up and looked at her in astonishment.

Mary, glaring at her, and still talking loudly, allowed Nigel to lead
her out of the room.

He then came back.

"I think my wife's gone mad! Forgive her. She's ill, or something."

"I'm going now at once," said Bertha calmly. "Have a cab called for me,
and let Madeline know that the motor will be here for her at half-past
twelve. Leave me now--I don't want anything."

"For God's sake forgive me. She's off her head," said Nigel
incoherently.

At her wish he ran upstairs.

Bertha got her cloak, and telling a friend she met that she was going on
to a dance, she got into a taxi and went home.

CHAPTER XXII

BERTHA AT HOME

Bertha drove back, furiously angry, principally with Nigel, whom she
also pitied a little. It could be no joke to live with a woman like his
wife. But he should not have deceived Bertha; he should have let her
know; he should not have induced her to come against Percy's wish, at
the risk of being insulted.

She was not anxious about Madeline, knowing that that sensible young
lady would go to her own home when the carriage came, and that she could
explain matters to her the next morning. Madeline was not _une faiseuse
d'embarras_.

* * * * *

Bertha had brought her key as Percy had promised to wait up for her; the
servants were to be allowed to go to bed. It was not long after twelve;
she saw a light in