Part 44 (1/2)

”I don't mind,” smiled Winnie. ”It's a great change, of course, but really I don't often think of him--nor he of me, I expect.” She added, with a little laugh: ”At least I hope he doesn't, because he wouldn't think anything complimentary. Of course I was surprised about the divorce.”

”We were all rather surprised at that,” Lady Rosaline murmured discreetly; her object was to obtain, not to give, information.

”It's the one inconsistent thing I've ever known him do.” She laughed.

”I wonder if it's possible that he's fallen in love with somebody else!”

Lady Rosaline threw no light. ”Oh, well, he wouldn't have to ask in vain, I should think.”

Winnie said nothing. She looked at the sea with a smile which her companion felt justified in calling inscrutable. Lady Rosaline took another risk.

”So much the worse for the woman, you'd say, I suppose?”

”I don't want to say anything. What I felt seems pretty well indicated by what I did, doesn't it, Lady Rosaline? Because I wasn't in love with anybody else then, you know.”

No, what she felt was not sufficiently indicated for Lady Rosaline's purposes. What Winnie had done showed that, to her, life with Cyril was impossible; but it did not show why. Just the point essential to Lady Rosaline was omitted.

”I should think some women might get on very well with him, though?” she hazarded.

Winnie gazed over the lake; she appeared to ruminate. Then she turned to her companion, smiling.

”Perhaps!” she said. ”And now I really must go and see how Mrs.

Lenoir--my friend--is. I hope we shall have another talk before we go--I don't mean about Cyril!”

Lady Rosaline watched her erect figure and her buoyant step as she walked back to the hotel, recalled her gaiety and the merriment of her smile as she enjoyed lake, mountains, and the little town, caught again the elusive twinkle of her eyes as she referred to the one inconsistent thing that Cyril Maxon had ever done. And that 'Perhaps!'--that most unsatisfactory, tantalizing 'Perhaps!' Was it a genuine a.s.sent, or merely a civil dismissal of the question, as one of no moment to the person interrogated? Or was it in effect a dissent--a reception of the suggestion profoundly sceptical, almost scornful? Probably a different woman could--possibly some woman might--no woman conceivably could--that 'Perhaps!' seemed susceptible of any of the three interpretations. Lady Rosaline made impotent clutches at the slippery word; it gave her no hand-hold; it was not to be tackled.

It was no use consulting Mrs. Ladd; she had not heard the elusive answer. Could Lady Rosaline unbosom herself plainly to Mrs. Maxon? That was her secret and urgent instinct, but, somehow, it did not seem an admissible thing to do; it was bizarre, and distasteful to her feelings.

Yet before long she must answer Cyril's letter. To allow him to come and meet her would be tantamount to an acceptance. To refuse to allow him would be, at least, such a postponement as he would bitterly resent and probably decline to agree to; he would either take it as a definite rejection, or he would come without leave--and 'bully' her again? She could hide herself--but could she? Mrs. Ladd would want to know why, and laugh at her--and not improbably put Cyril on the track. Lady Rosaline felt herself wrapped in perplexity as in a garment.

”Bother the man!” she suddenly said to herself aloud. Then she started violently. A tall, handsome, elderly lady, carrying a parasol, a large cus.h.i.+on, and a book, was absolutely at her elbow. She recognized Winnie's companion, Mrs. Lenoir.

”I'm afraid I startled you? May I sit down here? Winnie Maxon told me who you were, and you've been talking to her, haven't you?” Mrs.

Lenoir's amused expression left no doubt that she was aware of the subject of the conversation. ”Oh, she only just mentioned that you were a friend of Mr. Maxon's,” she added. ”She didn't betray your confidences.”

”I really don't think I made any,” smiled Lady Rosaline. ”But Mr. Maxon is a friend of mine. Oh, do let me settle that cus.h.i.+on comfortably for you. You're not feeling very well this morning, Mrs. Maxon told me.”

”I feel better now,” said Mrs. Lenoir, graciously accepting the proffered service. ”And the day's so beautiful that I thought I'd come out. But I didn't mean to make you jump, Lady Rosaline.”

She gave a sigh of contentment as she achieved a satisfactory position in regard to the cus.h.i.+on. ”I don't know Mr. Maxon myself,” she remarked.

”I like him very much.”

”Yes?” She was just as non-committal as Winnie had been with her 'Perhaps!'

”Of course, you've heard her side of the story.”

”I have,” said Mrs. Lenoir. ”Or as much of it as she'd tell me.”

Lady Rosaline determined to try what a little provocation would do.

”Of course, we who are his friends think that all might have gone well with a little more wisdom on her part.”