Part 27 (1/2)

”No good, I' else,” she sighed ”Don't spoil our evening, sweetheart”

The intermittent presence of the maid, rather than any state of mental satisfaction in Eric, kept the conversation peaceful He al Barbara's delighted enjoy with hi escaped her curious notice--a wine that he gave her to try with the scallops, the Lash pleasure of an invisibly lighted room, Australian passion-fruit at dessert, a new artist's proof

”You're really like a child at a pantohed, when they were alone

She rose slowly and bent over hi beside his chair

”I'!” she cried ”I love new experiences! At least, I _did_ I loved s--the world was so wonderful And then--I never understood why I went on living_You_ ht we ht, Eric, I was a foolBut somehoasn't afraid I knew you'd put your hand in the fire for ave a sudden shi+ver No one would ever knohat path he ht out of the maze of his disordered e to me,” he murmured

”But you put all women on pedestalsEric, will you believe me if I say that I've tried to live up to your conception of me?”

”But do you knohata thousand her than I can ever climb! When I'm restless, lonely, I think of our love, your wonderful devotion--like a mother's to her childand arette, Eric”

Before he could see what she was doing, the glowing end had been pressed against her hand until it blackened and died He saw her eyes shut and her lip whitening as she bit it Her body swayed and fell forward before the cruarette dropped on to the carpet

”You little--Babs, what's thequickly and holding out her hand to shew a ver with a leprous-white centre

”_I'd_ put my hand in the fire for _you_!” she panted

”You little fool!” He was filled with a desire to hurt her for having hurt herself ”Look here, Barbara”

But she had risen to her feet and was pressing the wounded hand to her lips

”You don't _kno it hurt!” she cried with a treood, precisely, d'you think you've done?” he asked

She snatched a spill from the mantel-piece and thrust it between the bars of the fire

”If you want it again----!”

Eric dragged her upright with one ar-room,” he said ”Barbara, what's the hed al forin the world you asked iving up shted her cigarette in silence Only a fool would break that silence for twenty-four hours

”A bit rash that, isn't it?” he asked, as he cut his cigar

”You won't askthat I don't want you to,” she answered ”And you know there are soht in, and he offered her sugar, knoell--if he had been able to collect hiarette went out and required another match A pile of five books, still in their wrappers, absorbed her