“Really, my dear, if one exacted certificates of lamb-like innocence, signed by a high celestial official, before you admitted anyone into the circle of your acquaintance, you might as well go and live on a desert island.” “But this man’s a beast and you’ve known it all along!” cried Olivia. “Only in one way.” “But—my God! Isn’t that enough?” Olivia stood, racked with disgust and amazement, over her mild-eyed, philosophic friend. “What would you have done if you had been in my place?” “I could never have been in your place,” said Lydia. “I should have been too wise.” “How?” “The knowledge of men, my dear, is the beginning of wisdom.” “And I ought to have known?” “Of course. At any rate, you’ll know in the future.” “I shall. You may be dead certain I shall,” declared Olivia, in her anger and excitement seizing a puckered and pleated cushion from the divan by which she stood. “And if even I—−-” “Don’t, darling; you’ll tear it,” said Lydia calmly. Olivia heaved the cushion back impatiently. “What I want to know is this. Are you and Sydney going to remain friends with Mavenna?” “I’m afraid we’ll have to,” replied Lydia. “Mavenna and Sydney are in all sorts of big things together.” “Well, when next you see him, Lydia, look well into his face and ask him what he thinks of the heel of my slipper and Mr. Triona’s fist. He’s not only a beast. He’s a worm. When I think of him picking himself up, after being knocked down by a man half his size——” She laughed a bit hysterically. “Oh—the creature is outside the pale!” Lydia shook her fair head. “I’m sorry for you, my dear. But he’s inside all right.” “Then I’m not going to be inside with him!” cried Olivia. And, like a little dark dust storm, she swirled out of the office and, through the shop, into the freedom and spaciousness of the streets. And that, for Olivia, was the end of night clubs and dancing as a serious aim in life, and a host of other vanities. A few mornings afterwards Lydia sailed into the flat and greeted Olivia as though nothing had happened. She seemed to base her philosophy of life on obliteration of the past, yesterday being as dead as a winter’s day of sixty years ago. Would Olivia lunch with Sydney and herself at some riverside club? Sydney, having collected Mauregard, would be calling for them with the car. The day was fine and warm; the prospect of the cool lawn reaching down to the plashing river allured, and she liked Mauregard. Besides, she had begun to take a humorous view of Lydia. She consented. Lydia began to talk of her wedding, fixed for the middle of July, of the clothes that she had and the clothes that she hadn’t—the ratio of the former to the latter being that of a loin-cloth to the stock of Selfridge’s. When she was serious minded, Lydia always expressed herself in terms of raiment. “And you’ll have to get some things, too, as you’re going to be bridesmaid.”