“Red pepper!” cried Victoria. “There is!” And she sprang up to get it for him. As she handed it to him he looked into her dilated, dark bright eyes, and thanked her courteously. When he was in this state his voice and tone in speaking were very melodious. Of course it set Harriet on edge. But Victoria stood fluttering with her hands over the table, bewildered. “What are you feeling for?” asked Jack. She only gave a little blind laugh, and remembered that she was going to sit down. So she sat down, and then wondered what it was she was going to do after that. “So you don’t cotton on to Kangaroo either?” said Jack easily. “I have the greatest admiration for him.” “You’re not alone there. But you don’t fall over yourself, loving him.” “I only trip, and recover my balance for the moment.” Jaz gave a loud laugh, across his cheese. “That’s good!” he said. “You trip, and recover your balance,” said Jack. “You’re a wary one. The rest of us falls right in, flop, and are never heard of again. And how did you part then?” “We parted in mutual esteem. I said I would go, and he asked me please to do so as quickly as possible.” Jack made round eyes, and even Jaz left off eating. “Did you _quarrel_?” cried Harriet. “Oh yes, violently. But of course, not vulgarly. We parted, as I said, in mutual esteem, bowing each other out.” “You _are_ awful. You only went on purpose to upset him. I knew that all along. Why must you be so spiteful?” said Harriet. “You’re never happy unless you’re upsetting somebody’s apple-cart.” “Am I doomed to agree with everybody, then?” “No. But you needn’t _set out_ to be disagreeable. And to Mr Cooley especially, who likes you and is such a warm, big man. You ought to be flattered that he _cares_ what you think. No, you have to go and try and undermine him. Ah--why was I ever pestered with such a viperish husband as you!” said Harriet. Victoria made alert, frightened eyes. But Somers sat on with the same little smile and courteous bearing. “I am, of course, immensely flattered at his noticing me,” he replied. “Otherwise, naturally, I should have resented being told to leave. As it was I didn’t resent it a bit.” “Didn’t you!” cried Harriet. “I know you and your pretences. That is what has put you in such a temper.” “But you remember I’ve been in a temper for days,” he replied calmly and gravely. “Therefore there could be no putting.” “Oh, it only made you worse. I’m tired of your temper, really.” “But Mr Somers isn’t in a temper at all!” cried Victoria. “He’s nicer than any of us, really. Jack would be as angry as anything if I said all those things to him. Shouldn’t you, Jack?” And she cuddled his arm. “You’d be shut up in the coal-shed for the night before you got half way through with it, if ever you started trying it on,” he replied, with marital humour. “No, I shouldn’t, either: or it would be the last door you’d shut on _me_, so there. But anyhow you’d be in a waxy old temper.”