“Come and sit down again and talk to me. You have told me nothing yet of yourself.”

Lauretta turned and smiled brightly. “Are you glad to see me?”

“I don’t know, but you’re welcome anyhow. Now come.” Lauretta returned and sat down meekly in the chair beside the chaise where Sarah had remained. “To work backward—you are here.” She nodded, and Lauretta nodded agreement. “You come from Savannah.”

“A clipper ship brought me from San Francisco, of course. How I do loathe and despise the ocean! It is so very unreasonable. Though Captain Slocum declared over and over again that it was a lucky trip for weather, I was ill for more than half the voyage.”

“You show no sign of it,” Sarah said.

“I am resilient.”

“That is certainly true.” Lauretta giggled as if she were a child successfully teasing an adult .“How come you to make the voyage alone? The last word I had from you was that Bonard had died—”

“Poor dear Bonard! Do not remind me—”

“—and that you had married a wealthy Mr. Tilly?”

“Was ever woman more deceived!”

“Please explain what you mean, Lauretta.”

“I mean that yes, I married Robb Quale Tilly—ridiculous name!—and yes, he was immensely rich. We had been married but seven weeks when the most hideous virago—fat and with no style or beauty at all—arrived in San Francisco by clipper ship and came direct to the hotel where we were lodged. We had not yet begun to build a house, although Robb spoke of doing so every day! In the meantime we stayed at the hotel for comfort and convenience. This caustic shrew, capable of playing any or all of the weird sisters in Macbeth, arrived at the hotel and announced to me that she, if you please, was Mrs. Robb Quale Tilly!”

“And what did Mr. Tilly say to that?” Sarah asked.

“He said to her, ‘I did not expect you so soon, my love.’ He made then as if to kiss her warty cheek, this man with whom I had lived seven weeks believing myself to be his wife, and she boxed his ears. There occurred, indeed, the most appalling scene, right there in the public sitting room of the hotel. I don’t know which of us was the angrier. Poor Robb had a bad half hour.”

“I should reckon so,” Sarah said. They looked at each other, looked quickly away, then back at each other. At the same instant they burst into laughter. Rising from their seats, they embraced, still laughing; and when they subsided a little, Sarah said, “Yes, you are welcome, Lauretta, and I am glad to see you! You are such a fool you make me feel quite sane. It is your saving grace.”