And having thus dismissed the gorgeous East, she turned to the Egyptian Gazette. There were telegrams to be found in it, anyhow, which came from more civilized parts. She had not played Bridge for twenty-four hours, and felt slightly depressed. But whenever a carriage stopped at the hotel she looked up; it appeared that she expected some one. At length the expected happened, and she rose from her seat and went to the top of the half-dozen steps that formed the entrance from the street. "Ah, my dear," she said, "my dear Marie, I have sat here all afternoon! I did not know when you might come. You are not dusty? You do not want to wash? Let us have immediately the apology for tea which they give one here." Marie put up her veil and kissed the face that was presented to her. It was fearful and marvellous, but she was extraordinarily glad to see it. "It was charming of you to wait for me," she said. "The train was very late. I think my maid has lost it. There was a sort of Babel at Alexandria, and the last I saw of her was that she was apparently engaged in a personal struggle with a man with 'Cook' on his cap." "Then, it will be all right if you give her time," said Lady Ardingly. "But meantime you have no luggage, no clothes? It does not matter. I will lend you all you want. Ah, my dear, you may smile, but I have all kinds of things." The apology for tea was brought, and both accepted it, talking of trivialities. Then Lady Ardingly sat in a lower chair. "And now talk to me, my dear," she said. "Tell me what news there is. I have not seen you since July!" Marie paused a moment. "I hardly know what to tell you," she said, "for I suppose you do not ask me for just the trivial news that I have, as last-comer from England." "No, my dear; who cares? Anybody can tell me that. About yourself." "Well, I saw Mildred," said Marie. "I saw her the same day as it happened. We went together to Jack's room. And we shook hands. I have not seen her since." "Ah, she did her best to ruin him in life, and she succeeded in killing him," said Lady Ardingly very dryly. "I do not want news of her. She is a cook." Marie bit her lip. "I also do not want to talk of her," she said. "She is very gay this winter, I believe. She says it would look so odd if she didn't do things, just because of that awful accident. She thinks people would talk." "She has a horror of that, I know," said Lady Ardingly, "except when they are not talking about her. If they are not talking about her, she joins in it. Did she, in confidence, tell you----" "Yes, she told me in confidence that it was she who had started that silly story about me. She told me also that you knew it. So I am not violating her confidence." Lady Ardingly made a noise in her throat which resembled gargling. "That is enough," she said. "What else, dear Marie?" Marie smiled. "You mean Jim, I suppose?" she said. "Yes, Jim."