By the next morning Robert had determined to leave town for a week or two, and take a holiday. He felt ill and nervous; his work was suffering; he would take advantage of a standing invitation from some friends at Maidenhead. A fortnight’s idling on the river would do him no harm, and relieve him from the necessity of meeting either his wife or Philippa. Quite early, he despatched two telegrams, and leaving a note for Cecily, he was on his way to Paddington before eleven o’clock. Cecily received the curt intimation of his departure with a sense of great relief. She was bitterly angry. Through a sleepless night she had followed again and again, with growing contempt, all the links in the chain of events which had preceded Robert’s outburst of the previous evening. Her anger burned the more fiercely with the memory of the impulse of tenderness which her husband’s words had quenched. She had thought herself so indifferent, she had so trained herself to forget, to ignore him, that it was with a sort of wonder she had felt her heart stirred lately by the sight of his obvious depression. Often she had longed to try to comfort him, and had found herself scornfully wondering what Philippa was about, to be unable to render this first aid to the wounded. She had been by no means displeased to find that Philippa did not understand him. Now all her pity for him was forgotten in indignation. All night she had been anticipating their meeting and the inevitable renewal of their broken conversation. What would be its result? And now, for the present at least, she might leave that consideration. Rose Summers was coming for a fortnight’s visit. There was comfort in the thought that she should have her to herself. * * * * * “Well, lioness!” was her friend’s greeting when she arrived at the well-chosen tea-hour. She kissed Cecily and held her at arm’s length, nodding approval. “A very well-favored animal,” she remarked. “I congratulate you, my dear.” Cecily laughed. “I’ve taken great pains with the grooming,” she said. “Do you groom lionesses, by the way?” “For drawing-room use, certainly. In your case with admirable result. Now, for heaven’s sake, give me some tea and tell me things.”