ink not. Why should they? One wants a bit of life, not to
hear people howling and groaning all about one. It's awful to be with
anyone who's under the weather."

"Ghastly! I can't stand it! But, all the same, it's a fearful _corvee_
to keep it up when you're persecuted as I am."

"Poor old Addie!"

Mr. Shiffney threw his cigar into the grate reflectively and lightly
touched his moustaches, which were turned upward, but not in a military
manner.

"Things never seem quite right for you," he continued.

"And other women have such a splendid time!" she exclaimed. "The
disgusting thing is that he goes all the while to Violet Mansfield."

"She's dull enough and quite old too."

"No, she isn't dull. You're wrong there."

"I daresay. She doesn't amuse me."

"She's not your sort."

"Too feverish, too keen, brainy in the wrong way. I like brains, mind
you, and I know where they are. But I don't see the fun of having them
jumped at one."

"He does, apparently, unless it's really Charmian."

"The girl? She's not bad. Wants to be much cleverer than she is, of
course, like pretty nearly all the girls, except the sporting lot; but
not bad."

"Jimmy"--Mrs. Shiffney's eyes began once more to look audacious--"shall
I ask Charmian Mansfield to come on the yacht?"

"You think that might bring him? Why not ask both of them?"

"No; I won't have the mother!"

"Why not?"

"Because I won't!"

"The best of reasons, too."

"You understand us better than any man in London."

She sat reflecting. She was beginning to look quite cheerful.

"It would be rather fun," she resumed, after a minute. "Charmian
Mansfield, Max--if he can get away--Paul Lane. It isn't the party I'd
thought of, but still--"

"Which of them were you going to take?"

"Never mind."

"I don't. And where did you mean to go?"

"I told him to the Mediterranean."

"But it wasn't!"

"Oh, I don't know! Where can one go? That's another thing. It's always
the same old places, unless one has months to spare, and then one gets
bored with the people one's asked. Things are so difficult."

"One place is very much like another."

"To you. But I always hope for an adventure round the corner."

"I've been round a lot of corners in my time, but I might almost as well
have stuck to the club."

"Of course _you_ might!"

She got up.

"I must think about Charmian," she said, as she went casually out of the
room.

Mrs. Shiffney turned the new idea over an