Interest was concentrated on Freda and Gregory of course and under Helen’s deft manipulation the story of their marriage and its secrecy was told, lightly, but with a clearness of detail that sent Ted’s eyes rather consciously to his plate once or twice as he avoided Barbara’s glance. Ted was sitting beside Freda and paying her open homage when he could get her attention. But Gage had much to say to her. “Are you still chasing romance?” he asked. “I always remember your startling me with your belief that women were more attractive when they believed in romance.” “Yes--I’m still after it. I feel the least bit guilty towards Gregory. Because while he goes back to Ireland with his heart in his hands ready to offer it to the country, the whole revolution is to me not as great tragedy as it is adventure. It is tragedy intellectually but not emotionally as far as I am concerned while to Gregory”--she turned her head to glance at Gregory. “And marriage is adventure too, isn’t it?” She forgot Ted and leaned a confidential elbow towards Gage, resting her chin in her cupped hand. “I wouldn’t dare say it in the hearing of my mother or the feminist feminists but that’s what it is. They talk of partnerships and new contracts--but they can’t analyze away or starve the adventure of it. All this talk--all the development of women changes things, but its chief change is in making the women type different--stronger, finer, you know, like your wife and Margaret Duffield. But even with women like that when it comes to love and to marriage it is adventure, isn’t it? You can’t rationalize things which aren’t rational and you can’t modernize the things that are eternal.” She became a little shy, afraid of her words. “Mother thinks I’m a reactionary. I don’t think I am. I want women to be stronger, finer--I’ll work for that--but that’s one thing, Mr. Flandon. It hasn’t anything to do with the adventure between men and women, really.” He started at that. But Ted claimed Freda’s attention and reluctantly she turned to him. “I think you treated me rather badly not telling me you were married. I thought all along that I had a chance, you know.” The brazenness did not make her angry. Nothing could anger her to-night. She was all warm vigor, pervading every contact between her and every one else. “Barbara looks very well to-night,” she answered with cool irrelevance. Barbara did. She had dressed with her customary skill but with the wit to avoid her usual look of sophistication. To-night she was playing the artless simple girl for Gregory’s benefit, listening to him with only an appreciative comment now and then. It was clear that Gregory was talking to her as he talked to one in whom he felt there was intelligence. “And how clever she is,” added Freda reflectively.