How coolly she had taken it! She had accepted it
at the time with calm acquiescence, and met him again with amiable
composure. Had she ever really forgiven him?

* * * * *

It had opened her eyes, had been a shock. She saw him now as the
shattered dream of her childish fancy, and she was thankful for her
escape. Yet deep down in her heart was a slight scar. It did not make
her hate Nigel, but apart from the fun and pleasantness of their
intercourse her real indifference to him was slightly tinged with
acidity: probably she would have been less sorry for him in any trouble
than for anybody else.

* * * * *

Bertha's vanity was not a very vivid part of her, and it took only one
form. When she cared for anyone she was deeply (though not outwardly)
exacting; she wanted that person entirely. To say that the general
admiration she received gave her no pleasure would be an absurd
exaggeration; if she had suddenly lost it, she would have missed it very
much, no doubt. But after all, she valued it chiefly because she thought
it was good for Percy. Privately she was not satisfied that Percy valued
her enough. Had her many friends and acquaintances been told that the
chief wish of the pretty Mrs. Kellynch was the more complete and
absolute conquest of her own husband--who seemed much more devoted than
most husbands--they would have been surprised, incredulous, perhaps even
a little shocked.

Nigel had promised to use all the means at his disposal to help
Madeline. Bertha was anxious her friend should have what she had just
missed.

* * * * *

"Well! Soon after the dinner I shall go and see Rupert in his rooms. I
shall get to know him well, and I shall gradually tell him about
Charlie, and how keen he is, and lead up to Miss Irwin, and say what a
charming girl she is, and all that sort of thing. Nothing makes so much
impression."

"Don't make him jealous of Charlie," said Bertha. "Anything that he
regarded as a slight I think would put an end to it. Rupert is not quite
a commonplace man."

"Jealous? Oh no, I should merely imply that Miss Madeline won't have
anything to say to Charlie, and that I wonder why. But it can't do him
any harm to know someone else wants her. My dear girl, a man understands
another man. That is where women are such fools. They think they know
more about men than men do, and that is why they are always be