he amusement, fairly threw
himself back. "There's nobody like you--you're too magnificent!"

"I AM; and that I can look the truth in the face and not be angry or
silly about it is, as you know, the one thing in the world for which I
think a bit well of myself."

"Oh yes, I know--I know; you're too wonderful!"

Mrs. Brookenham, in a brief pause, completed her covert consciousness.
"They're doing beautifully--he's taking Cashmore with a seriousness!"

"And with what is Cashmore taking him?"

"With the hope that from one moment to another Nanda may come in."

"But how on earth does that concern him?"

"Through an extraordinary fancy he has suddenly taken to her." Mrs.
Brook had been swift to master the facts. "He has been meeting her at
Tishy's, and she has talked to him so effectually about his behaviour
that she has quite made him cease to care for Carrie. He prefers HER
now--and of course she's much nicer."

Vanderbank's attention, it was clear, had now been fully seized. "She's
much nicer. Rather! What you mean is," he asked the next moment, "that
Nanda, this afternoon, has been the object of his call?"

"Yes--really; though he tried to keep it from me. She makes him feel,"
she went on, "so innocent and good."

Her companion for a moment said nothing; but then at last: "And WILL she
come in?"

"I haven't the least idea."

"Don't you know where she is?"

"I suppose she's with Tishy, who has returned to town."

Vanderbank turned this over. "Is that your system now--to ask no
questions?"

"Why SHOULD I ask any--when I want her life to be as much as possible
like my own? It's simply that the hour has struck, as you know. From the
moment she IS down the only thing for us is to live as friends. I think
it's so vulgar," Mrs. Brook sighed, "not to have the same good manners
with one's children as one has with other people. She asks ME nothing."

"Nothing?" Vanderbank echoed.

"Nothing."

He paused again; after which, "It's very disgusting!" he declared. Then
while she took it up as he had taken her word of a moment before, "It's
very preposterous," he continued.

Mrs. Brook appeared at a loss. "Do you mean her helping him?"

"It's not of Nanda I'm speaking--it's of him." Vanderbank spoke with a
certain impatience. "His being with her in any sort of direct relation
at all. His mixing her up with his other beastly affairs."

Mrs. Brook looked intelligent and wan about it, but also perfectly
good-humour