'Well, she generally is,' said Bruce. 'The only thing is she's so infernally deep sometimes, she sees things in people that nobody else would suspect. Oh, you do, you know!' 'Oh, do I?' said Madame Frabelle modestly. 'Yes, I think you do,' said Edith, who by this time felt inclined to throw the tea-tray at her guest. The last fortnight Edith's nerves had certainly not been quite calm. Formerly she would have been amused at the stupidity of the conversation. Now she felt irritated, bored and worried, except when she was with Aylmer. There was a moment's silence. Bruce leant back and half shut his eyes. Madame Frabelle softly put a cushion behind his shoulder, putting a finger on her lip as she looked at Edith. Edith suddenly got up. 'You won't think it horrid of me, Bruce? I've got to go out for a few minutes.' 'Oh no, no, no!' said Bruce. 'Certainly not. Do go, my dear girl. You'll be back to dinner?' 'Dinner? Of course. It isn't a quarter to six.' Her eyes were bright. She looked full of elasticity and spirit again. 'I quite forgot,' she said, 'something that I promised to do for Mrs Mitchell. And she'll be disappointed if I don't.' 'I know what it is,' said Madame Frabelle archly. 'It's about that Society for the Belgians,'--she lowered her voice--'I mean the children's _lingerie_!' 'That's it,' said Edith gratefully. 'Well, I'll fly--and be back as soon as I can.' Bruce got up and opened the door for her. 'For heaven's sake don't treat me with ceremony, my dear Edith,' said Madame Frabelle. She made a little sign, as much as to say that she would look after Bruce. But she was not very successful in expressing anything by a look or a gesture. Edith had no idea what she meant. However, she nodded in return, as if she fully comprehended, and then ran up to her room, put on her hat, and, too impatient to wait while the servant called a cab, walked as quickly as possible until she met one near the top of Sloane Street. It was already very dark. 'Twenty-seven Jermyn Street,' said Edith as she jumped in. * * * * * Ten minutes later she was sitting next to Aylmer. 'Only for a second; I felt I must see you.' 'Fool! Angel!' said Aylmer, beaming, and kissing her hand. 'Bruce is too irritating for words today. And Madame Frabelle makes me sick. I can't stand her. At least today.' 'Oh, Edith, don't tell me you're jealous of the woman! I won't stand it! I shan't play.' 'Good heavens, no! Not in the least. But her society's so tedious at times. She has such a pompous way of discovering the obvious.' 'I do believe you object to her being in love with Bruce,' said Aylmer reproachfully. 'That's a thing I will _not_ stand.' 'Indeed I don't. Besides, she's not. Who could be?... And don't be jealous of Bruce, Aylmer.... I know she's very motherly to him, and kind. But she's the same to everyone.' They talked on for a few minutes. Then Edith said: 'Good-bye. I must go.' 'Good-bye,' said Aylmer.