Sometimes when they spent evenings at home together, which were calm and peaceful and should have been happy, the girl would know, with the second-sight of love, that he was thinking about Eugenia. And this phantom, of which she never spoke to him and could not have borne him to know of, tormented her indescribably. It seemed like a spell that she knew not how to break. It was only a thought, yet how much it made her suffer! Giving way for the moment to the useless and futile bitterness of her jealousy, she had leant her head on the cushion of the little sofa where she sat, when, with a sudden sensation that she was no longer alone, she raised it again and looked up. Standing near the door she saw a tall, thin figure with a rather wooden face and no expression--a queer figure, oddly dressed in a mackintosh and a golf-cap. 'Why do you burn so much electric light?' Anne said dryly, in a reproachful voice, as she turned a button on the wall. Hyacinth sprang up with a cry of surprise. Anne hardly looked at her and walked round the room. 'Sit down. I want to look at your new room. Silk walls and Dresden china. I suppose this is what is called gilded luxury. Do you ever see that the servants dust it, or do they do as they like?' 'Anne! How can you? Do you know how anxious we've been about you? Do you know we weren't sure you were not dead?' 'Weren't you? I wasn't very sure myself at one time. I see you took the chances, though, and didn't go into mourning for me. That was sensible.' 'Anne, will you have the ordinary decency to tell me where you've been, after frightening me out of my life?' 'Oh, it wouldn't interest you. I went to several places. I just went away because at the last minute I felt I couldn't stand the wedding. Besides, you had a honeymoon. I didn't see why I shouldn't. And mine was much jollier--freer, because I was alone. Cheaper, too, thank goodness!' 'What an extraordinary creature you are, Anne! Not caring whether you heard from me, or of me, for four months, and then coolly walking in like this.' 'It was the only way to walk in. I really had meant never to see you again, Hyacinth. You didn't want me. I was only in the way. I was no longer needed, now you've got that young man you were always worrying about. What's his name? Reeve. But I missed you too much. I was too bored without you. I made up my mind to take a back seat, if only I could see you sometimes. I had to come and have news of you. Well, and how do you like him now you've got him? Hardly worth all that bother--was he?' 'I'll tell you, Anne. You are the very person I want. I need you immensely. You're the only creature in the world that could be the slightest help to me.' 'Oh, so there is a crumpled rose-leaf! I told you he was exactly like any other young man.' 'Oh, but he isn't, Anne. Tell me first about you. Where are you--where are you staying?'