a-party. Yes; on second thoughts I'll go.
I'd like to see the ladies who've been consoling you for my absence."

"Oh, nonsense, Violet. They haven't. They're just friends, that's all,"
he said irritably.

"Of course, dear; I know. Well, tell me what these 'just friends' are
like."

She certainly derived little idea of them from Wargrave's lame attempt
at description. And when later she and he were shown into Mrs. Dermot's
sitting-room at tea-time Noreen and Muriel found his picture of her as a
meek, long-suffering, neglected wife very unlike the radiant,
condescending lady who patronised them from the start. She showed a
tendency to address most of her conversation to the girl, despite the
latter's evident disinclination to talk, or perhaps because of it; for
the older woman seemed to take an impish delight in teasing her about
her friendship with Wargrave and their relations as nurse and patient,
although it was apparent that her malicious humour made the others
uncomfortable. She paraded her authority over Frank and treated him like
a hen-pecked husband. When finally she bore him away to escort her to the
Amusement Club she left the two girls speechless behind her. But not
for the same reason. Noreen was furious.

"What a hateful woman!" she exclaimed as soon as her visitor departed.
"And I pitied her as a poor neglected wife! What do you think of her?"

Muriel only shook her head, as she sat looking despondent and thoroughly
miserable. Mrs. Norton's malice affected her little, but her undoubted
loveliness had made her despair. How could an insignificant little
person like herself, she thought, hope to win affection from any man
whom this radiant beauty deigned to favour? Frank could not help adoring
so attractive a woman. He must have loved her in Rohar, although he said
that he had not. Muriel felt that she could have resigned herself more
easily to his keeping his word to Violet, if the latter had been less
good-looking.

Mrs. Dermot broke in on her miserable thoughts.

"Come, dear, we'll take the children for their walk and then go on later
to the Amusement Club."

"I couldn't go to the Club this evening, Noreen. I really couldn't. We'd
only see that woman again--with Frank."

"Well, what of it? We're not going to let her think we're afraid to face
her. I've no patience with Mr. Wargrave. Whatever he can see in her I
can't think. You're worth twenty of her, darling. Shallow, conceited.
She neglected? Sh