in, she had no use for happy
people. Her own life was spoilt--that the spoiling was due to herself
she would have been the last to acknowledge--and she was in no humour to
watch other people making a success of their lives. What she wanted was
to see those around her as unhappy, as disillusioned, as discontented as
herself; and all Toni's kindness, all her gentle, unselfish
friendliness, went for nothing when the opportunity arose for a further
darkening of Toni's already overshadowed sky.

On the surface, however, all was serenity. Eva accepted Toni's
companionship with outward gratitude, and when once Herrick was
satisfied that Toni knew what she was doing, he put no obstacles in the
way of their better acquaintance.

Afterwards he told himself that he should have known better than to
allow his wife to take advantage of Toni's unworldliness; but at the
moment he was only too glad to find Eva apparently sincere in her liking
for the simple-hearted Toni; and assuming, naturally, that Owen did not
disapprove of the growing intimacy, he watched the affair with a
gratitude made natural by his intense pity for his wife.

One day Mrs. Herrick asked Toni to accompany her to Sutton, where she
had made an appointment for twelve o'clock. It appeared that she had
suffered agonies of toothache while in prison, and although the
authorities had done all they could for her, she was again in urgent
need of a dentist's services. She had been informed of the arrival of a
new practitioner in the little town, who came from a London practice;
and to Toni's mingled surprise and dismay she found herself invited to
accompany Mrs. Herrick on a visit to Mr. Dowson's surgery.

On the spur of the moment she confessed to a previous acquaintance with
Mr. Dowson; and Eva thereupon plied her with questions as to his
proficiency in his work.

"I don't want my teeth breaking or my jaw dislocating," she said. "Do
you think the man's any good? It's such a bore to have to go up to town
every time. Has he ever done any work for you?"

Toni, who had never had toothache in her life, was obliged to reply in
the negative; but assured Eva that Mr. Dowson had an excellent
reputation in Brixton.

"Well, I wrote and fixed up an appointment with him," said Eva
carelessly, "so I suppose I'd better go. But if he isn't any good I
shan't go again."

"I'll run you over in the car," said Toni eagerly, "and we'll go on to
lunch somewhere. Miss Loder leaves early