'Yet, as I told you before, Edith, though I think you an ideal wife, you don't give me the impression of being in love with him. I hope you don't take this as an impertinence, my dear?' 'Not at all. And I'm not sure that I am.' 'Yet your mother-in-law told me the other day that you had been such a marvellous wife to him. That you had even made sacrifices. You have never had anything to forgive, surely?' 'Oh no, never,' hastily said Edith, fearing that Mrs Ottley was a little inclined to be indiscreet. 'She told me that Bruce had been occasionally attracted--only very slightly--by other women, but that you were the only person he really cared for.' 'Oh, I doubt if he ever thinks much of anyone else,' said Edith. * * * * * A characteristic of the Mitchells' entertainments was that one always met there the people they had met, even for the first time, at one's own house. Here were the Conistons, and Landi, whom Edith was always delighted to see. It was a large and gay lunch. Edith was placed some distance from Mr Mitchell. Of course there was also a novelty--some lion or other was always at the Mitchells'. Today it consisted of a certain clergyman, called the Rev. Byrne Fraser, of whom Mrs Mitchell and her circle were making much. He was a handsome, weary-looking man of whom more was supposed than could conveniently be said. His wife, who adored him, admitted that though he was an excellent husband, he suffered from rheumatism and religious doubts, which made him occasionally rather trying. There had been some story about him--nobody knew what it was. Madame Frabelle instantly took his side, and said she was sure he had been ill-treated, though she knew nothing whatever about it. She was placed next to him at table and began immediately on what she thought was his special subject. 'I understand that you're very modern in your views,' she said, smiling. 'I!' he exclaimed in some surprise. 'Really you are quite mistaken. I don't think I am at all.' 'Really? Oh, I'm so glad--I've such a worship myself for tradition. I'm so thankful that you have, too.' 'I don't know that I have,' he said. 'It's true, then, what I heard--I felt it was the moment I looked at you, Mr Fraser--I mean, that you're an atheist.' 'A _what_?' he exclaimed, turning pale with horror. 'Good heavens, Madame, do you know what my profession is?' He seemed utterly puzzled by her. She managed, all the same, somehow or other to lure him into a conversation in which she _heartily_ took his side. By the end of lunch they were getting on splendidly, though neither of them knew what they were talking about.