ift on an insufficient income; he could not
possibly afford her. If Bartie's suspicions were correct, the thing had
been going on for the last twelve years, and if in twelve years' time
they had not forced his hand that was because they had counted the cost,
and decided that, as Frances had put it, the "game was not worth the
scandal."

For when suspicion became unendurable he had consulted Anthony who
assured him that Frances, who ought to know, was convinced that there
was nothing in it except incompatibility, for which Bartie was
superlatively responsible.

Anthony's manner did not encourage confidence, and he gathered that his
own more sinister interpretation would be dismissed with contemptuous
incredulity. Anthony was under his wife's thumb and Frances had been
completely bamboozled by her dearest friend. Still, when once their eyes
were opened, he reckoned on the support of Anthony and Frances. It was
inconceivable, that, faced with a public scandal, his brother and his
sister-in-law would side with Vera.

It was a game where Bartie apparently held all the cards. And his trump
card was Veronica.

He was not going to keep Veronica without Vera. That had been tacitly
understood between them long ago. If Vera went to Cameron she could not
take Veronica with her without openly confirming Bartie's worst
suspicion.

And yet all these things, so inconceivable to Bartie, happened. When it
came to the stabbing point the courage of Vera's emotions was such that
she defied her husband and his ultimatum, and went to Cameron. By that
time Ferdie was so ill that she would have been ashamed of herself if
she had not gone. And though Anthony's house was not open to the unhappy
lovers, Frances and Anthony had taken Veronica.

Grannie and Auntie Louie and Auntie Emmeline and Auntie Edie came over
to West End House when they heard that it had been decided. It was
time, they said, that somebody should protest, that somebody should
advise Frances for her own good and for the good of her children.

They had always detested and distrusted Vera Harrison; they had always
known what would happen. The wonder was it had not happened before. But
why Frances should make it easy for her, why Frances should shoulder
Vera Harrison's responsibilities, and burden herself with that child,
and why Anthony should give his consent to such a proceeding, was more
than they could imagine.

Once Frances had stood up for the three Aunties, agains