Mansions, Hampstead," she said as she jumped in.

It was an extravagant method of travel--being some distance to
Hampstead--for a young woman earning three pounds ten a week and
spending most of it gorgeously, but she did not care. The four
shillings were a nothing compared to Marie's need of her. She passed
the time in speculations of wrathful trend, until they pulled up in
the quiet road from which she had so recently driven away with Desmond
Rokeby.

Marie opened the door to her--Marie with a face like white marble and
burning eyes. Her dead composure was wonderful and scornful, but Julia
would have none of it; as soon as the door was shut upon them and they
stood there, between the cream walls and black etchings of the hall,
she seized Marie in her arms, exclaiming:

"My poor dear! What's up? Has he--"

For a long while Marie wept on Julia's breast, before the ashes of the
dining-room fire, while the clock with the kind voice ticked musically
on and on, and the room grew chillier, and herself more tired; but at
last she could tell all.

"We--we've had--an awful--quarrel."

"Oh dear!" Julia commented, "oh dear!" She did not know what else to
say.

"I asked him--about the pram."

"Yes, yes! As you said you would."

"He is so angry, so unjust."

"My poor old kiddie!"

"And I was so angry, perhaps I was unjust too."

"No, no, you weren't," said Julia viciously. "I'm sure of it. Nothing
could be unjust to _him_. He deserves it all."

"No, he doesn't You don't understand. But he wasn't fair to-night; he
was so angry, and it wasn't my fault. Do they think we _like_
asking, I wonder? And I don't know what I said, Julia, but I know I
made him think I didn't want baby."

"Well?"

"But I _do_ want him, Julia. I don't know what I'd do without
him; I love him so much--they just grow into your life, Julia, babies
do. He's so sweet."

"Course you love him. I know that. So does Osborn, so don't cry."

"He said I ought to be ashamed of myself."

"Oh, indeed? _In_deed! And may one ask why?"

"B--because I asked for a pram, I s'pose."

"Really! Indeed! I'd like to--"

"Perhaps it wasn't just that. I don't know--but he got so angry and
said he couldn't afford it, and I said, 'P--p--perhaps on the
instalment p--p--plan?' and he said he was sick of instalments and
when was his money ever going to be his own again? And I can't help
it, Julia, can I? I haven't money of my own. And then I got angry and
said thi