and, as usual, began to knit vigorously.

Harold asked:

"Did you see those two women who just

went into the hotel ?"

"With cloaks on ? Yes, I passed them."

"Extraordinary creatures, didn't you

think ?"

"Well—yes, perhaps they are rather

odd. They only arrived yesterday, I think.

Very alike — they must be twins."

Harold said:

"I may be fanciful, but I distinctly felt

there was something evil about them."

"How curious. I must look at them more

closely and see if I agree with you."

She added: "We'll find out from the

concierge who they are. Not English, I

imagine?"

"Oh no."

Mrs. Rice glanced at her watch. She said:

209

"Tea-time. I wonder if you'd mind going

in and ringing the bell, Mr. Waring ?"

"Certainly, Mrs. Rice."

He did so and then as he returned to his

seat he asked:

"Where's your daughter this afternoon ?"

"Elsie? We went for a walk together.

Part of the way round the lake and then

back through the pinewoods. It really was

lovely.33

A waiter came out and received orders

for tea. Mrs. Rice went on, her needles

flying vigorously:

"Elsie had a letter from her husband.

She mayn't come down to tea."

"Her husband ?" Harold was surprised.

"Do you know, I always thought she was

a widow."

Mrs. Rice shot him a sharp glance. She

said dryly:

"Oh no, Elsie isn't a widow." She added

with emphasis: "Unfortunately!"

Harold was startled.

Mrs. Rice, nodding her head grimly,

said:

"Drink is responsible for a lot of unhappiness, Mr. Waring."

"Does he drink ?"

210

"Yes. And a good many other things as

well. He's insanely jealous and has a singularly

violent temper." She sighed. "It's a

difficult world, Mr. Waring. I'm devoted

to Elsie, she's my only child --and to see

her unhappy isn't an easy thing to bear.55

Harold said with real emotion:

"She's such a gentle creature.55

"A little too gentle, perhaps.55

"You mean --55

Mrs. Rice said slowly:

"A happy creature is more arrogant.

Elsie's gentleness comes, I think, from

a sense of defeat. Life has been too much

for her.55

Harold said with some slight hesitation:

"How--did she come to marry this

husband of hers ?55

Mrs. Rice answered:

"Philip Clayton was a very attractive

person. He had (still has) great charm, he

had a certain amount of money--and

there was no one to advise us of his real

character. I had been a widow for many

years. Two women, living alone, are not

the best judges of a man's character.55

Harold said thoughtfully:

"No, that's true.55

I 211

He felt a wave of indignation and pity

sweep over him. Elsie Clayton could not

be more than twenty-five at the most. He

recalled the clear friendliness of her blue

eyes, the soft droop of her mouth. He

realised, suddenly, that his interest in her

went a little beyond friendship.

And she was tied to a brute. .. .

II

That evening, Harold joined mother and