racelets, and they were evidently the
kind of people who would not like her; but she was too much absorbed by
her own restlessness to think or to look.

She was turning over the slippery pages of an American magazine, when
the hall door swung, a wedge of light fell upon the floor, and a small
white figure upon whom the light seemed focussed, made straight across
the room to her.

"What! You here?" Evelyn exclaimed. "Just caught a glimpse of you at
lunch; but you wouldn't condescend to look at _me_."

It was part of Evelyn's character that in spite of many snubs which she
received or imagined, she never gave up the pursuit of people she wanted
to know, and in the long run generally succeeded in knowing them and
even in making them like her.

She looked round her. "I hate this place. I hate these people," she
said. "I wish you'd come up to my room with me. I do want to talk to
you."

As Rachel had no wish to go or to stay, Evelyn took her by the wrist and
drew her out of the hall and up the stairs. As they went upstairs
two steps at a time, Evelyn, who still kept hold of Rachel's hand,
ejaculated broken sentences about not caring a hang what people said.
"Why should one, if one knows one's right? And let 'em all go to blazes!
Them's my opinions!"

She was in a state of great excitement, and the muscles of her arms were
twitching nervously. It was evident that she was only waiting for the
door to shut to tell Rachel all about it. Indeed, directly they were
inside her room, she sat on the end of the bed and said, "I suppose you
think I'm mad?"

Rachel was not in the mood to think clearly about any one's state of
mind. She was however in the mood to say straight out whatever occurred
to her without fear of the consequences.

"Somebody's proposed to you," she remarked.

"How on earth did you guess that?" Evelyn exclaimed, some pleasure
mingling with her surprise. "Do as I look as if I'd just had a
proposal?"

"You look as if you had them every day," Rachel replied.

"But I don't suppose I've had more than you've had," Evelyn laughed
rather insincerely.

"I've never had one."

"But you will--lots--it's the easiest thing in the world--But that's
not what's happened this afternoon exactly. It's--Oh, it's a muddle, a
detestable, horrible, disgusting muddle!"

She went to the wash-stand and began sponging her cheeks with cold
water; for they were burning hot. Still sponging them and trembling
slightly she turne