One November morning Jeremy woke to find her fully dressed. This was unusual. That one’s fast should be broken in bed was one of the articles of Mrs. Broke’s faith. So soon as her husband could speak, he asked what was wrong. After a while, a child told him her tale. “You remember that poor man yesterday I gave half a crown to? Well, what’s half a crown to me? It wasn’t giving him anything really. I mean, I wasn’t missing anything. It wasn’t hurting me. So I thought if this morning I got up at seven o’clock. . . . It sounds silly, because it hasn’t done him any good. But he did have his half-crown, and I—— Well, I’m glad I’m up now, but I do hope it was a deserving case, Jeremy. . . .” Her husband slid out of bed and picked up her hand. “I take my hat off,” he said uncertainly. And, as is so often the way, two days later the pretty pilgrims’ progress came to a violent end. It was a bleak afternoon, with a sky of concrete and a wind that cut like a lash. Eve, who had been to the dressmaker’s, was sitting before the fire, reflecting comfortably that in ten days’ time she and Jeremy would be in the South of France. Her husband entered quickly. “Sorry I’m late, my darling, but when he’d finished with me he said he was going south, and I was fool enough to offer to drive him down. You know what these artists are. Five-and-twenty minutes he kept me waiting.” He stooped and kissed her. “And—and I’ve a confession to make.” “Go on,” said Eve, smiling. “I’ve done it again, Eve.” “What?” Jeremy stepped to the fire. “Got stopped in the Park.” “Jeremy!” “I’m awfully sorry, dear. It’s a kind of disease with me.” “But you gave me your word——” “I know. I’m frightfully sorry. I wasn’t thinking about speed. As a matter of fact, I was talking to Hudibras. And then, just as I was going to switch out of Clarence Gate, they pulled me up. Perfectly ridiculous, of course. The road was clear.” “That’s hardly the point,” said Eve coldly. “I know, I know.” He paused. Then: “Of course, you’ll think I’m mad, but—Eve, ten minutes later I did it again.” His wife sat up. “Again?” Jeremy swallowed. “Again,” he said uncomfortably. “Down Constitution Hill. I tell you, Eve, I could hardly believe my eyes. Just as I got to the Palace, out they stepped. Thirty-three miles an hour. They’re perfectly right.” “And you promised to keep to twenty.” “I know. I’m frightfully sorry. It just shows——” Eve laughed. “It shows you don’t care a damn. I’ve begged and prayed you just for my sake to go slow. You know why. Because I’m worried to death when you’re out alone. You know it. Over and over again you’ve given your word.” Jeremy stared upon the floor. “I’ll give up driving,” he said. “I don’t care what you do. The damage is done. I begged, you swore, and now you’ve broken your word. If the police hadn’t stopped you, I should never have known. The obvious inference is that you’re breaking it all the time.”