cy in his helpers.

"I wish you'd leave Miss Loder's name out of the question," he said at
last, and his tone struck coldly on Toni's excited ear. "When the book
is published I will dispense with her assistance, if you wish it; but
until then I tell you frankly I intend to avail myself of her most
valuable help."

He had expected an angry reply; but none came. Instead Toni said in a
low voice:

"Very well, Owen. I know Miss Loder is useful to you and I am not. But
if you refuse to let me help you, I don't think you can complain if I
try to fill my time with other things--and if Mrs. Herrick is pleasant
and nice to me I cannot very well refuse to know her, can I?"

"To know her? Certainly not--but there is a difference between knowing
her casually and being with her all day long."

"I am not that," she replied quietly. "I take her motoring sometimes,
because it is dull going alone, and it is a treat to her. But of course
if you object--it is your car----"

"Oh, don't be silly, Toni." All Owen's pent-up irritation found vent in
the words. "I'm not a dragon--or an ogre, am I? Take Mrs. Herrick by all
means--have her here if you like, only for goodness' sake don't talk as
though I wished to condemn you to perpetual loneliness."

"Very well. I won't." She rose as she spoke. "You've finished, haven't
you? Then I'll go and see Mrs. Blades--she is ill again to-day, Kate
says."

"Is she? Poor old soul." Owen rose too, and passing round the table laid
his hands on Toni's shoulders. "Toni, we're not quarrelling, are we?
Have I neglected you lately? I'm sorry if I have--when the book's out we
will have a trip abroad, go on the Riviera or somewhere nice and warm."

He stooped, and kissed her, but though she lifted her face obediently
and even returned his caress, Toni's lips were cold and her eyes had
lost their sparkle.

Owen's inflexibility frightened her. She had half expected that when he
knew her real and vital dislike for Miss Loder he would promise to send
her away; but he had done nothing of the kind: and Toni felt again, as
she had already felt once or twice of late, that Owen had no intention
of giving in to his wife's fancies, as some men were always ready to do.

She had intended to offer to give up Eva Herrick's friendship if Owen
would send away Miss Loder. In the quiet hours of the night such a
bargain had seemed simple enough; but when it came to making the
suggestion Toni's heart failed her.

"Are you