'Never mind the details. I know his _feelings_--and that is everything.' 'You've had a quarrel, I suppose, and he's gone out of the house in a temper. Is that it?' 'I told him that I should leave him and go away somewhere with Anne.' 'Anne wouldn't go, of course.' 'You're right. She wouldn't when I asked her this morning, or I should be on my way to Paris by now.' 'If he treated you really badly,' said Sir Charles, 'she would have gone. It must be that she knows there's nothing in it.' 'I've offered to remain, on condition that we are merely friends. And he won't hear of it.' 'No wonder,' said Sir Charles. 'Now Hyacinth you know you've always been a spoilt child and had everything on earth you wanted. You must remember in life sometimes little things won't go right.' 'Anything might have gone wrong--anything in the world, and I would have borne it and not cared--but _that_!' 'I would do anything to see you happy again,' he said. 'You know that.' She looked up. There is a tone in the accents of genuine love that nothing can simulate. She was touched. 'Look here, Hyacinth, promise me to do nothing without letting me know.' 'I promise, Charles.' 'And I assure you that everything will come right. I know--I've had a little experience of the world. Won't you trust my judgement?' 'I'll try. You are a comfort, Charles.' 'And to think that I came to you for consolation!' he said. 'Well, Hyacinth, I shall bury this--forget all about it. Next time I see you you'll be beaming again. It's a passing cloud. Now, what do you think I've got to do? I've got to go home and fetch Janet to go to a meeting of the Dante Society at Broadwater House.' 'Good gracious! What on earth does Aunt Janet know about Dante?' 'Nothing, indeed. I believe she thinks he wrote a poem called "Petrarch and Laura." But someone told her it's the right thing to do; and when Janet thinks anything is the right thing--!' He took his hat and stick. 'Try and forgive Cecil. I'm sure he adores you. We all do.' 'Thanks, Charles. And I do hope Aunt Janet won't be wearing her green bonnet this afternoon.' 'Thank you, dear, I trust not. Good-bye.' CHAPTER XXXVIII Rehearsing 'How did you get on at the rehearsal today?' Edith asked. Bruce was looking rather depressed.