s and things. You looked very smart," he
said pleasantly.

"Well, I tell you I hated it, Nigel."

"And why?"

Mary was at least candid, and she spoke bluntly.

"Because we met Mrs. Kellynch; and you talked to her and seemed pleased
to see her."

"Oh, good heavens! I can hardly cut dead all the women I ever knew
before we were married."

"Do you think her pretty?" said Mary.

"Yes, of course I do; and so does everyone. She is pretty. It's a
well-known fact. But what does it matter? It's of no interest to me."

"Are you sure it isn't? Didn't you tell me you were almost engaged
once?"

"Oh, _do_ let's drop the prehistoric," he entreated, appearing bored.
"Never mind about ancient history now. She's married and seems very
happy." (He stopped himself in time from saying like us.) "Kellynch is a
very good sort."

"Is he? Do you envy him?"

"Mary, really, don't be absurd. Let me tell you that there's not one man
in a hundred who could stand ..." and he moved a step farther away.

"Could stand what?" She came nearer to him. "My caring for you so much?"

Half-a-minute passed in something near torture, as she played with his
tie again, and he controlled himself and spoke with a determinedly kind
smile.

"Go along and dress for dinner," he said.

"What shall I wear?"

"Oh! Your pretty yellow teagown," he answered.

She could not go out in that, he was reflecting, and if he suddenly
wanted to go for a walk----

"Very well, Nigel. Oh, dear Nigel! I don't mean to be disagreeable."

"I'm sure you don't," he answered, "let's leave it at that, my dear."

"All right," she said smiling, and went away, with a rather coquettish
kiss of the hand to him.

He opened the door and shut it after her, with gallant attention. Then
he threw up his arms with a despairing gesture.

"My God! What a woman! Why--why was I such a fool? ... How much longer
_can_ I bear it?"

The Hilliers' relatives and intimate friends often said cheerfully about
them: "Mary is very fond of Nigel, but she rather gets on his nerves."

* * * * *

No one seemed yet to have discovered that there was a large double
tragedy in that simple, commonplace sentence.

CHAPTER VI

FUTURISM

It had long been Nigel's dream, since he had practically given up all
hope of calm and peaceful happiness at home, to have, at least, a secret
sorrow that everyone knew of and sympathised with. And certain people
did feel