Also I should have said that Hardress cordially detested Charteris, just as Bettie Hamlyn did, because for some reason he suspected the little novelist of being in love with Hardress's wife. I do not know; but I imagine Charteris had made advances to her, in his own ambiguous fashion, as he was apt to do, barring strenuous discouragement, to every passably handsome woman he was left alone with. I do know he made love to her a little later. Hardress distrusted a number of other men, for precisely the same reason. Heaven only is familiar with what grounds he had. I merely know that Gillian Hardress loathed John Charteris; she was jealous of his influence over me. But me her husband never distrusted. I was only an amusing and ingenuous child of twenty-two, and not for a moment did it occur to him that I might be in love with his wife. Indeed, I believe upon reflection that he was in the right. I think I never was. 8 "Yes," I said, "I am to meet the Charterises in Genoa. Yes, it is rather sudden. I am off to-morrow. I shall not see you dear good people for some time, I fancy...." When Hardress had gone the woman said in a stifled voice: "No, I will not dance. Take me somewhere--there is a winter-garden, I know--" "No, Jill," said I, with decision. "It's no use. I am really going. We will not argue it." Gillian Hardress watched the dancers for a moment, as with languid interest. "You fear that I am going to make a scene. Well! I can't. You have selected your torture chamber too carefully. Oh, after all that's been between us, to tell me here, to my husband's face, in the presence of some three hundred people, without a moment's warning, that you are 'off to-morrow!' It--it is for good, isn't it?" "Yes," I said. "It had to be--some time, you know." "No, don't look at me. Watch the dancing, I will fan myself and seem bored. No, I shall not do anything rash." I was uncomfortable. Yet at bottom it was the theatric value of this scene which impressed me,--the gaiety and the brilliance on every side of her misery. And I did not look at her. I did just as she ordered me. "I was proud once. I haven't any pride now. You say you must leave me. Oh, dearest boy, if you only knew how unhappy I will be without you, you could not leave me. Sweetheart, you must know how I love you. I long every minute to be with you, and to see you even at a distance is a pleasure. I know it is not right for me to ask or expect you to love me always, but it seems so hard." "It's no use, Jill--"