Now Amory and Cosimo had married on certain express understandings, of which a wise and far-sighted anticipation of the various courses that might be taken in the event of their not getting on very well together had formed the base. Therefore the little warm flurry she felt suddenly at her heart could not possibly have been a feeling of liberation. How could it, when there was nothing to be liberated from? Just as much liberty as either might wish had been involved in the contract itself, and a formal announcement of intention on either part was to be considered a valid release. And so, in spite of that curious warm tingle, Amory was not one atom more free, nor one atom less free, to develop (did she wish it) a relationship with anybody else--Edgar Strong or anybody--than she had been before. She saw this perfectly clearly. She had talked it all over with Cosimo scores of times. Why, then, did she tingle? Was it that they had not talked it over enough? No. It was because of a certain furtiveness on Cosimo's part. Evidently he wished to "take action" (if she might use the expression without being guilty of a vulgarized meaning) _without_ having made his formal announcement. That she had come upon them so far from The Witan was evidence of this. They had deliberately chosen a part of the Heath they had thought it unlikely Amory would visit. They could have done--whatever they were doing--under her eyes had they wished, but they had stolen off together instead. It was a breach of the understanding. Before they had seen her, she left the path, struck across the grass behind them, and turned her face homewards. She was far, far too proud to look back. Certainly it was his duty to have let her know. Never mind. Since he hadn't.... Yet the tingling persisted, coming and going in quite pleasurable little shocks. Then all at once she found herself wondering how far Cosimo and Britomart had gone, or would go. Not that it was any business of hers. She was not her husband's keeper. It would be futile to try to keep somebody who evidently didn't want to be kept. It would also take away the curious subtle pleasure of that thrill. She was not conscious that she quickened the steps that took her to the studio, where by this time Edgar Strong probably awaited her. Most decidedly Cosimo ought to have given her warning---- As for Britomart Belchamber--sly creature--no doubt she had persuaded him to slink away like that---- Well, there would be time enough to deal with her by and bye---- Amory reached The Witan again. As she entered the hall a maid was coming out of the dining-room. Amory called her. "Has Mr. Strong been in?" "He's in the studio, m'm," the maid replied. "Are the children with Miss Belchamber?" "No, m'm. They're with nurse, m'm." "Is Miss Belchamber in her room?" "No, m'm. She's gone out." "How long ago?" "About an hour, m'm." "Is Mr. Pratt in?" "I think so, m'm. I'll go and inquire." "Never mind. I'm going upstairs."