t queenly flight
for the house. He wanted to say things about her. _To_ someone. He was
already saying things to the garden generally. What does one marry a
wife for? His mind came round to Ellen again. Where had she got to? Even
if she had gone out to lunch, it was time she was back. He went to his
study and rang for Snagsby.

"Lady Harman back yet?" he asked grimly.

"No, Sir Isaac."

"Why isn't she back?"

Snagsby did his best. "Perhaps, Sir Isaac, her ladyship has
experienced--'as hexperienced a naxident."

Sir Isaac stared at that idea for a moment. Then he thought, 'Someone
would have telephoned,' "No," he said, "she's out. That's where she is.
And I suppose I can wait here, as well as I can until she chooses to
come home. Degenerate foolish nonsense!..."

He whistled between his teeth like an escape of steam. Snagsby, after
the due pause of attentiveness, bowed respectfully and withdrew....

He had barely time to give a brief outline of the interview to the
pantry before a violent ringing summoned him again. Sir Isaac wished to
speak to Peters, Lady Harman's maid. He wanted to know where Lady Harman
had gone; this being impossible, he wanted to know where Lady Harman had
seemed to be going.

"Her Ladyship _seemed_ to be going out to lunch, Sir Isaac," said
Peters, her meek face irradiated by helpful intelligence.

"Oh _get_ out!" said Sir Isaac. "_Get_ out!"

"Yes, Sir Isaac," said Peters and obeyed....

"He's in a rare bait about her," said Peters to Snagsby downstairs.

"I'm inclined to think her ladyship will catch it pretty hot," said
Snagsby.

"He can't _know_ anything," said Peters.

"What about?" asked Snagsby.

"Oh, _I_ don't know," said Peters. "Don't ask _me_ about her...."

About ten minutes later Sir Isaac was heard to break a little china
figure of the goddess Kwannon, that had stood upon his study
mantel-shelf. The fragments were found afterwards in the fireplace....

The desire for self-expression may become overwhelming. After Sir Isaac
had talked to himself about Georgina and Lady Harman for some time in
his study, he was seized with a great longing to pour some of this
spirited stuff into the entirely unsympathetic ear of Mrs. Sawbridge. So
he went about the house and garden looking for her, and being at last
obliged to enquire about her, learnt from a scared defensive housemaid
whom he cornered suddenly in the conservatory, that she had retired to
her own room. He went and