o intention of letting Magda
down lightly.

"I believe you were created without a soul," she informed her candidly.

Magda smiled a little.

"Do you know you're the second person to tell me that?" she said. "The
idea's not a bit original. Michael Quarrington told me the same thing in
other words. Perhaps, perhaps it's true."

"Of course, it's not true!" Gillian contradicted her warmly. "I only
said it because I was so out of patience with you."

"Everybody seems to be hating me rather badly just now." Magda spoke
somewhat forlornly. "And yet--I don't think I'm any different from
usual."

"I don't think you are," retorted Gillian. "But it's your 'usual'
that's so disastrous. You go sailing through life like a beautiful cold
star--perfectly impassive and heartless."

"I'm not heartless. I love you--and Marraine. You surely don't blame me
because I don't 'fall in love'? . . . I don't _want_ to fall in love,"
she added with sudden vehemence.

"I wish to goodness you would!" exclaimed Gillian impatiently. "If only
you cared enough about anybody to do something really outrageous--run
off with another woman's husband, even--I believe I should respect you
more than I do now."

Magda laughed.

"Gillyflower, I'm afraid you've no morals. And you here in the capacity
of watchdog and duenna, too!"

"It's all very well to make a joke of everything. But I know--I'm sure
this business about Kit Raynham is going to be more serious than you
think. It's bound to affect you."

Magda stared at her blankly.

"What nonsense! Affect me--why should it? How can it?"

"How can it?"--with bitterness. "Everyone will talk--more than usual!
You can't smash up people's only sons--not lovable, popular boys like
Kit--without there being a fuss. You--you should have left a kid like
that alone."

And she went out of the room, banging the door behind her like a big
full-stop.

Gillian's prophecy proved only too accurate. People did talk. Kit
Raynham had been a general favourite in society, and his disappearance,
taken in conjunction with the well-known fact of his infatuation for
Magda, created a sensation.

Even when the theory of suicide was finally disproved by his mother's
receiving a letter from Australia, whither it appeared, the boy
had betaken himself and his disappointment, people seemed at first
disinclined to overlook Magda's share in the matter. For a time even
her immense prestige as a dancer suffered some eclipse,