Part 21 (1/2)

”Dear George! You think I'm perfect, don't you?”

”Perfection isbut my imperfections toon her debtsYou're better, Babs, than when I came to see you in London I hope you're--happier”

”Ah, if only I could _undo_”

She broke off, and George looked at her cautiously to see whether she was trying him with the pose of conscience-stricken penitent, already a little out-moded after fourteen months of war

”You certainly had your share of scrapes, but there was nothing discreditable in them Too much vitality----”

She spread out her hands, white and transparent in the sun-light

”I'd _done_ everything else! Being with father everywhereAnd I was driven into it by opposition I must have been a mule in a previous incarnation D'you know, if father says he's co here by the 410, I _have_ to come by the 540, however inconvenient it may be to everybody--just to assert ested

”What d'you mean?”

She had ceased to smile, and two faint lines of annoyance were visible between her eye-brows

”I'etically

”I don't anway creature

Can't you break his eye-glass or cut a piece off the end of his nose, George? Did he tell you who I cah in his investigations I' you”

”I don't s so iCome to lunch!

I'll be in ti hi refectory

At luncheon and recurrently through the afternoon Barbara wondered how far Deganway's gossiping tongue had already prejudiced her relations with Eric If he heard that they were being discussed, he would in all probability strike an attitude and declare that he could not be a party to coer At present he was too novel a distraction for her to spare him easily; already he had becoe Oakleigh and the thrill of gratitude and elation which she had felt when he began sluggishly but surely to fall in love with her

The house-party had dispersed before she came down next day Breakfast in bed was a dull meal, because she had hoped to find an unsolicited letter fro She had to wait until the second post, and that only brought her the briefest possible acceptance of her invitation Not until Tuesday did she receive the long letter which he had written on Saturday night And the intimacy and tenderness of it were half spoiled even then, for Lady Crawleigh followed her maid into the roo and settled down to read instructive extracts froh Abbey see and deserted Barbara secured a trunk call to Eric's flat on Monday night; but, after twenty minutes to wonder why she shewed so little pride and whether he would be angry with her, a faint voice answered that Mr Lane was dining out So which she could not analyze told her that she would be taking an unfair risk with his affection, if she tried to coain She could hardly understand why she was staying in bed and taking so great care of herself; but it was Eric's wish, and she had felt a leap at the heart when he interested himself in her welfare If he only knew, it would do her h at hiesture of affection froain and see hirateful to hi a new interest into her life

Little Val Arden had once said, years before the war, that she would find her greatest emotion on the day when she lost her heart

But it were useless to fall in love with Eric if she could not make him return her love

Thursday seehtmareShe wrote Mrs Shelley a letter which she hoped would not read so transparently false as it see

”_Dearest Marion, I feel so rude for never having apologized either for running away htful party I was feeling dreadfully tired I'm in bed now; in fact, I've hardly been out of bed since I came here on Saturday, and he put a pistol tohts next week Will you shew that you forgive us by inviting us again? Your affectionate Barbara_”