hing, but cried bitterly. She was in despair at the
idea of his leaving her, but secretly felt she might have been let off
less lightly.

One thing Nigel resolved. He would not let her know he had been
forbidden the house. She would be too pleased at having succeeded. But
he said:

"One thing you may as well know, I shall see nothing more of the
Kellynches, because they are going into the country in a few days. They
have had no quarrel, they are perfectly devoted to each other, and she
has not the faintest idea of it. So you see you haven't done the harm,
or caused the pain you tried to, except to me. I was ashamed when I
saw----"

"Oh, Nigel, forgive me! I am sorry! Don't go away!"

"Unless I go away now, I shall go altogether. Don't cry. Try to cheer
up!"

With these words he left the room.

CHAPTER XXX

MISS BELVOIR

We left Bertha and Madeline in the lift going up to call on Miss
Belvoir. This lady was sitting by the fire, holding a screen. She came
forward and greeted them with great cordiality. She was a small, dark,
amiable-looking woman about thirty. Her hair and eyes were of a
blackness one rarely sees, her complexion was clear and bright, her
figure extremely small and trim. Without being exactly pretty, she was
very agreeable to the eye, and also had the attraction of looking
remarkably different from other people. Indeed her costume was so
uncommon as to be on the verge of eccentricity. Her face had a slightly
Japanese look, and she increased this effect by wearing a gown of which
a part was decidedly Japanese. In fact it was a kimono covered with
embroidery in designs consisting of a flight of storks, some
chrysanthemums, and a few butterflies, in the richest shades of blue. In
the left-hand corner were two little yellow men fighting with a sword
in each hand; otherwise it was all blue. It was almost impossible to
keep one's eyes from this yellow duel; the little embroidered figures
looked so fierce and emotional and appeared to be enjoying themselves so
much.

The room in which Miss Belvoir received her friends was very large, long
and low, and had a delightful view of the river from the Embankment. It
was a greyish afternoon, vague and misty, and one saw from the windows
views that looked exactly like pictures by Whistler. The room was
furnished in a Post-Impressionist style, chiefly in red, black and
brown; the colours were all plain--that is to say, there were no designs
except on