'No, not if you let me sec you sometimes.' He looked at her radiant face and felt the soothing, rather intoxicating, effect of her admiration after Eugenia's coldness.... He took her hand and held it for a minute, and then they parted with the prospect of meeting the next day. Hyacinth went home too happy even to speak to Anne about it. She was filled with hope. He _must_ care for her. And Cecil felt as if he were a strange, newly-invented kind of criminal. Either, he said to himself, he was playing with the feelings of this dear, beautiful creature, or he was drifting into a _mariage de convenance_, a vulgar and mercenary speculation, while all the time he was madly devoted to someone else. He felt guilty, anxious, and furious with Eugenia. But she had really meant what she said that morning; she wouldn't see him again. But the thought of seeing Hyacinth under the trees the next morning--a secret appointment, too!--was certainly consoling. With a sudden sensation of being utterly sick of himself and his feelings, tired of both Hyacinth and Eugenia, and bored to death at the idea of all women, Cecil went to see Lord Selsey. CHAPTER XIII More of the Little Ottleys 'Fancy!' said Edith. 'Fancy what?' 'Somehow I never should have thought it,' said Edith thoughtfully. 'Never should have thought what? You have a way of assuming I know the end of your story before I've heard the beginning. It's an annoying method,' said Bruce. 'I shouldn't have been so surprised if they had been anywhere else. But just _there_,' continued Edith. 'Who? and where?' 'Perhaps I'd better not tell you,' Edith said. They had just finished dinner, and she got up as if to ring the bell for coffee. He stopped her. 'No! Don't ring; I don't wish Bennett to be present at a painful scene.' Edith looked at him. 'I didn't know there was going to be a painful scene. What's the matter?' 'Naturally, I'm distressed and hurt at your conduct.' 'Conduct!' 'Don't echo my words, Edith.' She saw he looked really distressed. 'Naturally,' he continued, 'I'm hurt at your keeping things from me. Your own husband! I may have my faults--' She nodded. 'But I've not deserved this from you.' 'Oh dear, Bruce, I was only thinking. I'm sorry if I was irritating. I will tell you.' 'Go on.' 'When Nurse and Archie were out in the Gardens this morning, who do you think they met?' 'This is not a game. I'm not going to guess. You seem to take me for a child.' 'Well, you won't tell anybody, will you?' 'That depends. I'm not going to make any promises beforehand. I shall act on my own judgement.' 'Oh, you might promise. Well, I'll trust you.' 'Thanks! I should think so!' 'They met Hyacinth, walking with Cecil Reeve alone in a quiet part of the Gardens. They weren't walking.' 'Then why did you say they were?' asked Bruce severely. 'It's the same thing. They were sitting down.' 'How _can_ it be the same thing?'