esay you think I'm weak and stupid
... but I can never understand wives who set detectives on their
husbands."

"It isn't done by the best people," Jan said with a laugh that was half
a sob. "Let's hope it isn't often necessary...."

Fay drew a little closer: "Oh, you are dear not to be stern and
scolding...."

"It's not you I feel like scolding."

"If you scolded him, he'd agree with every word, so that you simply
couldn't go on ... and then he'd go away and do just the same things
over again, and fondly hope you'd never hear of it. But he _was_ kind in
lots of ways. He didn't drink----"

"I don't see anything so very creditable in that," Jan interrupted.

"Well, it's one of the things he didn't do--and we had the nicest
bungalow in the station and by far the best motor--a much smarter motor
than the Resident. And it was only when I discovered that Hugo had made
out I was an heiress that I began to feel uncomfortable."

"Was he good to the children?"

"He hardly saw them. Children don't interest him much. He liked little
Fay because she's so pretty, but I don't think he cared a great deal for
Tony. Tony is queer and judging. Don't take a dislike to Tony, Jan; he
needs a long time, but once you've got him he stays for ever--will you
remember that?"

Again, Jan felt that cold hand laid on her heart, the hand of chill
foreboding. She had noticed many times already that when Fay was off her
guard she always talked as though, for her, everything were ended, and
she was only waiting for something. There seemed no permanence in her
relations with them all.

A shadowy white figure lifted the curtain between the two rooms and
stood salaaming.

Jan started violently. She was not yet accustomed to the soundless naked
feet of the servants whose presence might be betrayed by a rustle, never
by a step.

It was Ayah waiting to know if Fay would like to go to bed.

"Shall I go, Jan? Are you tired?"

Jan was, desperately tired, for she had had no sleep the night before,
but Fay's voice had in it a little tremor of fear that showed she
dreaded the night.

"Send her to bed, poor thing. I'll look after you, brush your hair and
tuck you up and all.... Fay, oughtn't you to have somebody in your room?
Couldn't my cot be put in there, just to sleep?"

"Oh, Jan, would you? Don't you mind?"

"Shall I help her to move it?" Jan said, getting up.

Fay pulled her down again. "You funny Jan, you can't do that sort of
thing h