Part 32 (2/2)
”Why?”
”Well, I mean the position. Lady Herbert Manning could go where Mrs Glinn could not, and all that sort of thing.”
”The only question is whether you can bring yourself to ask her?”
”My dear chap, you don't put it too pleasantly.”
”It's the fact, though.”
Lord Herbert hesitated. Then he said dubiously, ”I suppose so.”
Maine lit another cigar and sat down again. His face was very white.
”You're rather conventional, Manning,” he said presently.
”Conventional! Why?”
”You think her--this Mrs Glinn--a good woman. Isn't that enough for you?”
”But, besides Eve and myself, there is a third person in the situation.”
”How on earth did you find out that?” exclaimed Maine.
The other looked surprised. ”How did I find out? I don't understand you.”
Maine recollected himself. He had made the common mistake of fancying another might know a thing because he knew it.
”Who is this third person?” he asked.
”Society.”
”Ah! I said you were conventional.”
”Every sensible man and woman is.”
”I don't know that I agree. But the third person does certainly complicate the situation. What are you going to do then?”
Lord Herbert put down his pipe. It was not smoked out. ”That's what I want to know,” he answered.
”Of course, there's the one way--of being unconventional. Then, there's the way of being conventional but unhappy. Is there any alternative?”
Lord Herbert hesitated obviously, but at length he said: ”There is, of course; but Mrs Glinn is a curious sort of woman. I don't quite know--”
He paused, looking at his friend. Maine's face was drawn and fierce.
”What's the row?” Lord Herbert asked.
”Nothing; only I shouldn't advise you to try the alternative. That's all.”
”Maine, what do you mean?”
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