going motoring to-day, Toni?"

"I had thought of it," she said slowly; "but--do you want the car?"

"No, thanks, dear. I'm going up to town by the twelve-thirty--I promised
to meet Barry for lunch. Shall you be in?"

"No. I thought of lunching out," said Toni rather vaguely.

"Oh. Well, you'll order Miss Loder's lunch then, won't you? She must
have it alone to-day."

Owen, occupied with a letter he held in his hand, had spoken
thoughtlessly; but an exclamation from Toni made him pause and regard
his wife in amazement. Toni's pallor had given way to a deep flush, and
her usually sweet eyes blazed with rage.

"Oh, I'll order Miss Loder's lunch." She spoke in sharp staccato tones.
"You needn't be afraid I will neglect her because you're away. I _can_
keep house, if I'm not a B.A.; and thank Heaven I shan't have to sit at
the table and listen to her sneering at me all the time."

"Toni!" In Owen's eyes a flame similar to that in her own had sprung to
life. "What do you mean by this nonsense about Miss Loder? Let me tell
you once and for all that I won't have it. You never cease libelling
that unfortunate woman from morning to night. Considering she is here,
in your house, in a subordinate position, your behaviour is both
unladylike and ungenerous; and if you continue to talk in this way about
a girl who has to earn her own living, and has never done you any
harm--well, we shall quarrel, that's all."

"I don't care if we do." Toni's hot temper--a heritage from her Italian
mother--was let loose. "I'd sooner quarrel than submit to everything you
like to do. If you loved me, treated me as you ought to treat your wife,
you'd send her away. Oh, I'm not jealous in a silly way--I know you
aren't likely to make love to her----"

"_Toni!_" Owen's voice frightened her into silence. "Don't dare to put
such a vulgar insinuation into words, if you please. If you are so lost
to your own dignity and self-respect as your anger seems to imply, at
least remember that you are my wife, and don't let me hear such a
thoroughly degrading and unworthy remark from you again."

"I _didn't_!" Toni, crimson-faced, had tears in her eyes. "I said I
didn't think it. It's not fair of you to pretend I did.... I only
meant----"

"I'm afraid you don't know what you do mean," said Owen, his anger dying
down at the sight of her tears. "But in any case we had better drop the
subject."

He paused for a moment, then something in Toni's forlorn aspec