e Tregelly thought I
gave it to his wife, and she thought I gave it back to him, as I heard
no more about the thing then. But this time, as soon as I arrived," he
smiled, "it was passionately reclaimed by both--and I promised to have a
look."

Felicity clapped her hands.

"Then I'll send it back at once, and--will you have a look?"

"Good God, no! Never let me see the thing again." He took up a paper as
if tired of the subject.

"Did you come back to look for it?" she asked.

"I came back because I received a three-volume novel wire from Savile,
explaining what he called the situation."

"Fancy! Isn't he wonderful?"

"He's the limit," said Chetwode, laughing.

"But you might tell me, dear Chetwode; it isn't really for her that you
go there?"

"Really, Felicity! I hardly ever see her! She's always busy with her
children or rattling her house-keeping keys. Oh, she's all
_right_--suits Tregelly, poor chap! Are we through now?" he asked, with
patience.

"No. Won't you kiss me and forgive me?"

"Presently," he said, turning a page of the paper.

"May I just say that nothing of this sort could ever have happened
if--if you didn't go away just a _little_ too much? From the very first
you know you were always absolutely free. I've the greatest horror of
bothering you, or tyrannising in any way, but don't you think it's gone
a little too far? If we hadn't been rather separated, I couldn't have
made such a mistake about you. Suppose you'd found, privately locked up,
a similar portrait of Bertie Wilton, say, wouldn't _you_ have thought
things?"

"Wilton's an ass," said Chetwode. "But he does _know_. To give him his
due, I couldn't have found a similar portrait of him. He isn't capable
of allowing such a thing to exist."

"Well, say a good portrait," said Felicity. "Do let us be perfectly
frank with each other."

"We will," said Chetwode. "I _am_ rather sick of Wilton."

"He's really an awfully good boy," said Felicity.

"Then let him be a good boy somewhere else. I'm tired of him."

"I'll see less of him," she answered.

"Good!" said Chetwode.

"And--I know it was a very long speech I made just now, but don't you
think I'm right?"

"I didn't hear," he answered. "I was listening to your voice."

"Then must I say it all over again? I _really_ want you to take it in,
Chetwode," she said pleadingly.

"Say it all over again, and as much more as you like, dear."

"And then will you tell me you haven't he