'Do you mean,' she said, after a silence, 'that you intend to prevent my seeing her later on too? In London?' 'That, exactly, is my intention.' Miss Entwhistle stared at him, lost in thought; but he could see he had got her this time, for her face had gone visibly pale. 'In that case, Everard,' she said presently, 'I think it my duty----' 'Don't begin about duties. You have no duties in regard to me and my household.' 'I think it my duty to tell you that from my knowledge of Lucy----' 'Your knowledge of Lucy! What is it compared to mine, I should like to know?' 'Please listen to me. It's most important. From my knowledge of her, I'm quite sure she hasn't the staying power of Vera.' It was now his turn to stare. She was facing him, very pale, with shining, intrepid eyes. He had got her in her vulnerable spot he could see, or she wouldn't be so white, but she was going to do her utmost to annoy him up to the last. 'The staying power of----?' he repeated. 'I'm sure of it. And you must be wise, you must positively have the wisdom to take care of your own happiness----' 'Oh good God, you preaching woman!' he burst out. 'How dare you stand there in my own house talking to me of Vera?' 'Hush,' said Miss Entwhistle, her eyes shining brighter and brighter in her white face. 'Listen to me. It's atrocious that I should have to, but nobody ever seems to have told you a single thing in your life. You don't seem to know anything at all about women, anything at all about human beings. How could you bring a girl like Lucy--any young wife--to this house? But here she is, and it still may be all right because she loves you so, if you take care, if you are tender and kind. I assure you it is nothing to me how angry you are with me, or how completely you separate me from Lucy, if only you are kind to her. Don't you realise, Everard, that she may soon begin to have a baby, and that then she----' 'You indelicate woman! You incredibly indecent, improper----' 'I don't in the least mind what you say to me, but I tell you that unless you take care, unless you're kinder than you're being at this moment, it won't be anything like fifteen years this time.' He repeated, staring, 'Fifteen years this time?' 'Yes. Good-bye.' And she was gone, and had shut the door behind her before her monstrous meaning dawned on him. Then, when it did, he strode out of the room after her. She was going up the stairs very slowly. 'Come down,' he said. She went on as if she hadn't heard him. 'Come down. If you don't come down at once I'll fetch you.'