r what she does or how she treats him; and, after all, I
suppose even love can die for want of sustenance. It seems to me she
gives all she has to give to the baby, and her husband is left to pick
up the crumbs that fall from her table!"

"It will end as all such marriages end," said Tommy. "She is only half
awake to life, and too pretty for every-day use. Meredith should awaken
her by flirting with Mrs. Fox; otherwise someone else will do it by
flirting with his wife. I wouldn't put it beyond the doctor."

Honor stiffened visibly. "Why do you say that?" she asked coldly.

"Well, he is given every opportunity. Last night, for instance, on our
way home from your place, Smart and I saw his motor in the avenue of the
Bara Koti. It was under the trees with a shaft of moonlight full on the
steering wheel. If he had wanted to make it invisible, he ought to have
reckoned on the hour and the moon. We thought he had gone to Sombari,
but he was singing to Mrs. Meredith."

"Is that true?" Honor asked in low tones of pained surprise.

"We both pulled up outside the cactus hedge till the song was finished.
He was singing _Temple Bells_!"

So he had not gone to Sombari after all! It had only been an excuse for
him to get away from the party. He was evidently not above lying,
and--Joyce Meredith was so beautiful!

And Joyce had been alone!

Honor flushed hot and cold with sudden emotion which she could hardly
understand because it was so new to her: passionate resentment towards
Joyce Meredith for the impropriety of receiving a visit from Captain
Dalton at that late hour. Her position as a married woman did not cover
such indiscretion. How would Ray Meredith feel if he heard that his
adored wife was entertaining the doctor at midnight, and alone? It
sounded abominable, even if innocent in intention.

It was not right! it was _not_ right!...

At the same moment, pride rose in arms to crush her resentment. What
business was it of hers what Joyce Meredith did, or Captain Dalton,
either? They were not answerable to her for their conduct--or
misconduct....

Captain Dalton might please himself as far as she was concerned. He was
hardly a friend. Why should she be so deeply affected by his acts? Yet
her heart was wrung with pain at the mere thought that he had spent the
rest of the evening entertaining Joyce Meredith who was as beautiful and
as foolish as a little child. Any man might be excused for losing his
head when treated