This was glaringly illogical. It seized Tommy's premise and twisted it to an absolutely opposite conclusion. But Tommy was bewildered by the mental gymnastics--or by something else that dazzled him. He released her arm and stepped back almost ceremoniously. Peggy lifted her arm and seemed to study it for a second. 'That's nice of you,' she said. 'But'--her laugh rang out--'I'm going all the same!' In an instant she had darted through the door. Tommy made as though he would follow, but paused on the threshold and pulled the door close again. Perhaps she could carry it off; he could not. He walked slowly back to the spindle-shanked chair and sat down again. Tommy's head was rather in a whirl, but his heart beat gaily. 'By Jove--yes!' he thought to himself. 'Give her time, and it's yes!' Peggy, unrepentant, strode across the passage and stopped outside the sitting-room. Human nature would not stand it. She must listen or go in. She did not hesitate: in she went. Airey was standing by the window; she saw but hardly noticed him. In the middle of the room was Trix Trevalla. But what a Trix! Peggy stood motionless a minute at the sight of her. Her quick eye took in the ring on Trix's finger, the sparkle of the diamonds on her wrist, the softer lustre of the pearls about her neck. The plain gown she wore showed them off bravely, and she seemed as though she were hung with jewels. Peggy recognised the jewels; the small boxes she knew also, and marked where they lay on the table. All that was the work of an instant. Her eyes returned to Trix and rose above the pearls to Trix's face. The hardness and the haggardness, the weariness and shame, all suspicion and all reserve, were gone from it. The face was younger, softer; it seemed rounder and more girlish. The eyes glowed with a veiled brightness. Peggy stood there on the threshold, looking. At last Airey spoke to her; for Trix, though she met her eyes, said nothing and did not move from her place. 'Peggy,' he said, 'she's been with me. She's been where we went this afternoon. You know the way; you showed it to me.' Now Trix Trevalla came towards her, a little blindly and unsteadily as it seemed. She held out both hands, and Peggy went forward a step to meet them. 'Yes, I've been. I think I've been to--to the soul shop, Peggy.' She threw herself in the girl's arms. 'Is it--is it all right?' gasped Peggy. 'It's going to be,' said Airey Newton. She put Trix at arm's length and gazed at her. 'They look beautiful, and you look beautiful. I wonder if you've ever looked like that before!' 'It's all gone,' said Trix, passing her hand across her eyes. 'All gone, I think, Peggy.' 'Oh, I can't stay here!' cried Peggy in dismay. For her eyes too grew dim; and now she could no more have sung than yawned. She caught Trix to her, kissed her, and ran from the room. 'I beg your pardon; you were quite right, sir,' she said to Tommy. 'I never ought to have gone in.'