so particular before you married me, my love. When
you ran that French flat with Yvonne you jolly well knew how to
amuse yourself."

"Girls do many things before they're married," said Laura
vaguely. "I know better now."

"Oh, you know a lot. She ought to go, Lawrence. It'll do her
good. Now you shall go, my dear, that's flat."

Lawrence began to wish he had held his tongue. He had his own
ends to serve, but, to do him justice, he had not meant to serve
them at Laura's expense. But he had still his trump card to
play. "Surely we could find a chaperon?" he said gently, ignoring
Bernard. "What about the Staffords? Hardly in Val's line,
perhaps. But the child--little Miss Isabel--won't she do?"

To his relief, Laura's eyes lit up with pleasure. "Isabel? I
never thought of her! Yes, she would love to come!--But, if she
does, she must come as my guest. You would never have asked her
of your own accord, and the Staffords are so proud, I'm sure Val
wouldn't like you to pay for her." Again Bernard's short,
sardonic laugh translated the silence of his cousin's constraint
and dismay.

"Hark to her! I'll sort her for you, Lawrence. She shall go,
and you shall be paymaster. Yes, and for the Stafford brat too.
Lawrence and I don't understand these modern manners, my dear.
When we take a pretty woman out we like to do the treating. Now
cut along and see about the tickets, Lawrence. You can 'phone
from the post office."

Lawrence had secured a box ten days ago, but he strolled out,
thinking that the husband and wife might understand each other
better when alone. As soon as he was out of earshot Bernard
turned on Laura and seized her by the wrist, his features
altering, their sardonic mask recast in deep lines of hate.
"Why wouldn't you go up alone? That's what he wanted. Why have
you saddled him with the little Stafford girl? You can't take
her to dine in a private room."

"It was because I foresaw this that I refused. Why do you
torment yourself by forcing me to go?"

"I? What do I care? Do you think I should shed many tears if
you walked out of the house and never came back? Think I don't
know he's your lover? you're uncommonly circumspect with your
stable door! . . . A woman like you! Look here." He picked up the
Persian dagger. "See it? That's been used before. I should like
to use it on you. I should like to cut your tongue out with it.
Don't be afraid, I'm not going to stab you."

"Afraid