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She looked at Rokeby's creaseless back, at his fingers wandering over the keys, and for the first time she noticed how sensitive, how caressing the fingers were. Yet that two people in her intimate circle could contemplate that through which she herself had passed painfully, as through ordeal by fire.... It made her very kind to them both, though a small stir of queer jealousy was in her.
She began to chatter, as if to slur over a momentary confusion. "I've only been in ten minutes, and I was going to settle down to a lonely evening. I'm awf'ly glad to have you, Marie darling. If Mr. Rokeby's going to stay he'll have to be useful. I'm afraid you find me almost déshabillée, but I'm one of these sloppy bachelors, as you know."
He asked more casually for news, and she told him of Rokeby's and Julia's surprise wedding. He sat back, astonished, exclaiming: "Good heavens! How unsuitably people marry!" "They do, don't they?" The noise in the next room had subsided; and presently the handle of the sitting-room door turned quietly, and three inquiring faces looked in, Minna holding the baby steady.
I have missed seeing you this winter." The words were spoken sincerely, for Corinna's heart was open to all the world but Rose Stribling. "Thank you. How lovely your cedars are!" The wan light shone again in Alice Rokeby's face.
As Osborn cast off his overcoat and took Rokeby's, he glanced around expressively. "You should see the flat. You will see it soon. All Marie's arrangement, and absolutely charming." "Thanks awfully. I'll be your first caller." "Well, don't forget it. What'll you have?" "Whiskey, please." "So'll I." Osborn gave Desmond one of the two armchairs by the fire, and took the other himself.
She was wearing her smartest dress of blue serge and her gayest hat of a deep old red. Never had she looked more radiant; never had she carried her glorious head with a more triumphant air. "Stop first at Mrs. Rokeby's, William," she said to the chauffeur, "and while I am there you may take this list to market."
She hated this timidity which had grown upon her with the married years; a timidity based upon loss of trust in her womanly powers, loss of the natural arrogance of beauty. Holding her head very erect, she replied: "I am a friend of Mr. Rokeby's. Will you kindly say that Mrs. Osborn Kerr has called?" Second thoughts sent her fumbling in her bag and producing a card.
Her handsome face was grim beneath her veil and her eyes snapped. As she pulled up short and stood in Rokeby's path, she expressed to him the idea of a very determined obstacle. "How nice to meet you!" he cried goodhumouredly. "I'm glad I've met you," she replied. Rokeby surveyed her quizzically. "What an admission," he said, "from an arch-enemy! You are the enemy of us all, aren't you?
She herself might break away from codes and customs; but she could not break away from the strain of honour, of simple rectitude, which was in her blood and had made her what she was. "Yes, there ought to be something. There is something," she said slowly. Though her hand still clasped Alice Rokeby's, she was gazing beyond her across the terrace into the garden.
But time had dragged on; Corinna had come home again; and Alice Rokeby's violet eyes had grown deeper and more wistful, with a haunted look in them as if they were denying a hungry heart. She had never dressed well; she had never, as Mrs. Stribling remarked, known how to bring out her best points; and to-night she had been even less successful than usual. Both Corinna and Mrs.
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