ur mamma in the face?"

"Did it yesterday evening!" said Gwen. "We had an explosion.... Well, I
won't say that--suppose we call it a warm discussion, leading to a more
reasonable attitude on the part of ... of the people who were in the
wrong. The other people, that is to say!"

"Precisely. They always are. I vote we sit on the sofa, and you take
your bonnet off. I know it's on by the ribbons under your chin--not
otherwise."

"What a clever man he is--drawing inferences! However, bonnets _have_
got very much out of sight, I admit. Hands off, please!... There!--now I
can give particulars."

Irene, who--considerately, perhaps--had not followed closely, here came
in, saying:--"Stop a minute! I haven't heard anything yet....
There!--now go on."

She found a seat, and Gwen proceeded.

"I came home yesterday, with an old woman I've picked up, who certainly
is the dearest old woman...."

"Never mind the old woman. Why did you come?"

"I came home because I chose. I came here because I wanted to.... Well,
I'll tell you directly. What I wish to mention now is that I have not
driven a coach-and-six through the solemn compact. I assented to a
separation for six months, but no date was fixed. I assure you it
wasn't. I was looking out all the time, and took good care."

"Wasn't it fixed by implication?" This was Irene.

"Maybe it was. But _I_ wasn't. We can put the six months off, and start
fair presently. Papa quite agreed."

"Mamma didn't?" This was Adrian.

"Of course not. That was the basis of the ... warm discussion which
followed on my declaration that I was coming to see you to-day. However,
we parted friends, and I slept sound, with a clear conscience. I got up
early, to avoid complications, and made Tom Kettering drive me here in
the dog-cart. It took an hour and a half because the road's bad. It's
like a morass, all the way. I like the sound of the horse's hoofs when I
drive, not mud-pie thuds."

"We didn't hear any sound at all, except Ply.... Yes, dear!--of course
_you_ heard. I apologize." Irene said this to Achilles, who, catching
his name, took up a more active position in the conversation, which he
conceived to be about himself. Some indeterminate chat went on until
Gwen said suddenly:--"Now I want to talk about what I came here for."

"Go it!" said Adrian.

"I want to know all about what 'Re said to Dr. Merridew in her
letter.... Well, what's the matter?"

Amazement on Irene's fact had caused th