"Well young lady," murmured Mrs. Bailey dolorously at last, "I felt I couldn't do less than come up, for my _own_ satisfaction." She thinks I have made a scandal, without consulting her ... her mind flew, flaming, over the gossiping household, over Mrs. Bailey's thoughts as she pondered the evidence. Wrenching away from the spectacle she entrenched herself far off; clutching out towards the oblivion of the coming holidays; a clamour came up from the street, the swaying tumult of a fire-engine, the thunder of galloping horses, the hoarse shouts of the firemen; the outside life to which she went indifferent to any grouped faces either of approval or of condemnation. "I'm awfully sorry you've had all this, Mrs. Bailey." "Oh that's nothing. It's not that I think of." "Don't think about anything. It doesn't matter." "Well I've got it off my mind now I've spoken." "It _is_ abominable isn't it. Never mind. I don't care. People are perfectly welcome to talk about me if it gives them any satisfaction." "That is so. It's von Heber I'm so mad about." "They're all alike as you say." "He might have given you a chance." Dr. von _Heber_; suddenly nearer than anyone. Her own man. By his own conviction. Found away here, at Mrs. Bailey's; Mrs. Bailey's regret measuring his absolute genuineness. Gone away.... She steadied herself to say "Oh, if he's selfish." "They're all that, every one of them. But we've all got to settle in life, sooner or later." That was all, for Mrs. Bailey. She rallied woefully in the thought that Mrs. Bailey knew she could have settled in life if she had chosen. Flickering faintly far away was something to be found behind all this, some silent thing she would find by herself if only Mrs. Bailey would go. * * * * * _Fascinated._ How did they find the word? It was true; and false. This was the way people talked. These were the true-false phrases used to sum up things for which there were no words. They had no time. They were too busy. That was in the scheme. They were somehow prevented from doing anything. Dr. von Heber had been saved. The fascinating eyes and snorting smile had saved him; coming out of space to tell him she was a flirt. He had boasted. She adore me; hah! I tell you she adore me, he would say. It was history repeating itself. Max and Ted. Again after all these years. A _Jew_. 2