Hyacinth turned back and went to the music-room again. Some time afterwards Cecil joined her, Mrs Raymond having apparently disappeared. The new tenor was singing an old song. Cecil sat down next to Hyacinth on a little Empire sofa. 'Let me look at the programme,' he said. And as he took it from her he pressed her fingers. She snatched her hand angrily away. 'Pray don't do that,' she said in a contemptuous tone. 'Even to obey Mrs Raymond, you needn't do violence to your feelings!' 'Miss Verney! I beg your pardon! But what _do_ you mean?' 'Surely you understand. And don't trouble to come and see me any more.' He looked at her. Her suave social dexterity had vanished. Her eyes were dark with purely human instinctive jealousy. They looked at each other a moment, then Lord Selsey came up and said-- 'I'm afraid my attempt at originality hasn't been quite a success. The concert's not as harmonious as I hoped. Come and have tea, Miss Verney.' Hyacinth did not speak a word to Anne on their way home, nor did she refer to the afternoon, nor answer any remark of Anne's on the subject till that evening, when Anne came into her room to complain of the electric light and make fun of Lord Selsey's guests. Then she found Hyacinth sobbing, and saying-- 'I shall get over it. I shall be all right tomorrow. I'm going to cut him out of my life!' 'He'll soon cut in again,' said Anne. 'Indeed he won't! I'm not going to be played with. Preferring an old Japanese who doesn't even _like_ him, and then making a fool of me!' 'If she ran after him, and you begged him to stick to her, it would be the other way,' said Anne. 'What do you mean? Hasn't he any real preference?' 'Yes. He's attached to her, fond of her. She's utterly indifferent about him, so he's piqued. So he thinks that's being in love.' 'Then why does he try to deceive me and flirt with me at all?' 'He doesn't. You really attract him; you're suited to him physically and socially, perhaps mentally too. The suitability is so obvious that he doesn't like it. It's his feeling for you that he fights against, and especially because he sees you care for him.' 'I was horrid enough to him today! I told him never to call here again.' 'To show your indifference?' 'I made him understand that I wanted no more of his silly flirtation,' said Hyacinth, still tearful. 'If you _really_ made him think that, everything will be all right.' 'Really, Anne, you're clever. I think I shall take your advice.' Anne gave a queer laugh. 'I didn't know I'd given any, but I will. Whatever he does now, leave him alone!' 'I should think so! Then why did you tell me the other day to keep on hammering?' 'I was quite right the other day.' 'Didn't I look nicer than Mrs Raymond?' 'That's not the point. You talk as if you were rivals on the same platform. She's on a different plane. But he'll get tired in the end of her indifference and remember _you_,' added Anne sardonically.