'And it's all through Miss Yeo. In fact, Anne's enmity to Jane's sister is quite extraordinary--unheard of. By some deep and malicious plot it seems she prevented you yielding to your better nature--or something--and there it is. Oh, Hyacinth, I wish she hadn't! It makes your aunt so nasty to me. Yes, _I_ get the worst of it, I can tell you.' 'Poor Charles! I am sorry. If I'd known that you were going to suffer for it, I should have insisted on engaging her. Is it too late now? I believe we've got another housemaid, but can't she come too?' 'I fear it is too late. And when Janet has got accustomed to a grievance she doesn't like having it taken away either. No, nothing can be done. And I _am_ having a time of it! However, it's a great comfort to see you. You're never worried are you?' 'Never worried! Why, Charles, if you only knew--of course I've _been_ divinely happy, but just now I'm in real trouble.' He looked at her. 'But I can't bear anyone to know it.' 'Then don't tell me,' he said. 'Oh, I must tell you! Besides, very likely you'll hear it soon.' Then she added,' It's not impossible that Cecil and I may separate.' 'My dear child!' 'I believe he likes someone else better.' 'This is nonsense, Hyacinth. A mere lovers' quarrel. Of course, you must make it up at once. He's devoted to you. Who could help it?' She broke down. 'Oh, Charles, I'm so unhappy.' Sir Charles felt furious indignation at the idea that any man could cause those tears to flow. He put his arm round her as if she had been a child. 'My dear Hyacinth, don't be foolish. This is not serious; it can't be.' He had known her intimately since she was ten and had never seen her cry before. The old tenderness surged up in his heart. 'Can I do anything, dear?' 'No, no, Charles. I should _die_ if he knew I had told you!' 'Surely it must be your imagination.' 'I think he deceives me, and I know he prefers that horrid woman.' 'Don't cry, Hyacinth.' She cried more, with her face buried in a cushion. He kissed the top of her head pityingly, as if in absence of mind. He remembered it was the first time for eight years. Then he got up and looked out of the window. 'Cecil can't be such a blackguard. He's a very good fellow. Who is this new friend that you're making yourself miserable about?' 'It isn't a new friend; it's Lady Selsey.' Sir Charles stared in amazement. 'Eugenia! Why she's the best creature in the world--utterly incapable of--I'm perfectly certain she cares for nobody in the world but Selsey. Besides, to regard her as a rival of yours at all is grotesque, child.' 'Ah, yes; you say that because you regard me almost as your daughter, and you think I'm pretty and younger, and so on. But that's not everything. There are no standards, no rules in these things. And even if there were, the point is not what she is, but what he thinks her. He thinks her wonderful.' 'Well, what has happened?'