a height to
small voices stealing vaguely up from below. Charmian began to underline
things. It was as if one of the voices from below became strident in the
determination to be adequately heard, to make its due effect. Finally
she was betrayed into saying:

"Of course we wives of composers are apt to be prejudiced."

Madame Sennier stared.

"But," added Charmian, "people who really know think a great deal of my
husband; Mr. Crayford, for instance."

Directly she had said this she repented of it. She realized that Claude
would have hated the remark had he heard it.

Madame Sennier seemed unimpressed, and at that moment the others came in
from the garden. But Charmian, why she did not know, felt increasing
regret for her inadvertence. She even wished that Madame Sennier had
shown some emotion, surprise, even contemptuous incredulity. The
complete blankness of the Frenchwoman at that moment made Charmian
uneasy.

When they were all going Mrs. Shiffney insisted on Charmian and Susan
Fleet dining at the Hotel St. George that evening. Charmian wanted to
refuse and wished to go. Of course she accepted. She and Susan had no
engagement to plead.

Jacques Sennier clasped her hands on parting and gazed fervently into
her eyes.

[Illustration: "'OF COURSE WE WIVES OF COMPOSERS ARE APT TO BE
PREJUDICED'"--_Page 242_]

"Let me come sometimes and sit in your garden, may I, Madame?" he said,
as if begging for some great boon. "Only"--he lowered his voice--"only
till your husband comes back. There is inspiration here!"

Charmian knew he was talking nonsense. Nevertheless she glanced round
half in dread of Madame Sennier. The yellow eyes were smiling. The white
face looked humorously sarcastic.

"Of course! Whenever you like!" she said lightly.

The monkeylike hands pressed hers more closely.

"The freedom of Africa, you give it me!"

He whisked round, with a sharp and absurd movement, and joined the
others.

"She is delicious!" he observed, as they walked away. "But she is very
undeveloped. She has certainly never suffered. And no woman can be of
much use to an artist unless she has suffered."

"Henriette, have you suffered?" said Mrs. Shiffney, laughing.

"Terribly!" said Jacques Sennier, answering for his wife. "But
unfortunately not through me. That is the great flaw in our connection."

He frowned.

"I must make her suffer!" he muttered.

"My cabbage, you are a little fool and you know it!" observed Mada