Part 40 (2/2)

A short ti wo Peter Flower at every ball and party He told me when I teased him that she failed to arrest his attention and that, for the first time in my life, I flattered him by my jealousy I persisted and said that I did not know if it was jealousy but that I was convinced she was a bad friend for his bad when they don't suit you, but why should I give up hing-stock of London! But, if it is any satisfaction to you, I will tell you I don't care for the black lady, as you call her, and I never see her except at parties”

I knew Peter as well as a cat knows its way in the dark and I felt the truth of his reue

The lady often asked o and see her, but I shrank from it and had never been inside her house

One day I told Peter I would meet him at the Soane Collection in Lincoln's Inn Fields To ed himself to see his sister, who had been ill, and pointed out with a laugh thatroot He added:

”I don'tit up if you can spend the whole afternoon withto see his sister for the world

Finding ht I would pay a visit to the black lady, as it was unworthy of ainst some one whom I did not know It was a hot London day; pale colours, thin stuffs, naked throats and large hats were strewn about the parks and streets

When I arrived, the lady's bell was answered by a hall-boy and, hearing the piano, I told him he need not announce me When I opened the door, I saw Peter and the dark lady sharing the same seat in front of the open piano She wore a black satin sleeveless tea-gown, cut low at the throat, with a coral ribbon round her waist, and she had stuck a white rose in her rather dishevelled Carmen hair I stood still, startled by her beauty and stunned by Peter's face She got up, char luck which had brought me there that very afternoon, as she had a wonderful Spaniard co to play to her after tea and she had often been told by Peter how musical I was, etc, etc She hoped I was not shocked by her appearance, but she has just coet into decent clothes She was perfectly at her ease and ; before I could answer, she rallied Peter and said she pleaded guilty of having lured hi with a slight twinkle:

”Froot, you would NEVER have done anything so wicked? ”

I felt ice in my blood and said:

”You needn't believe that! I've lured hiht years, haven't I, Peter?”

There was an uncomfortable silence and I looked about for a means of escape, but it took ood-bye and left the house

When I was alone I locked the door, flung ht; he had said, ”Why should I give up ht years, this seeive me in return?” What indeed? What claiold for silver, but the dark lady would have called it copper for gold Was she prepared to give everything for nothing? Why should I call it nothing? What did I know of Peter's love for her? All I kneas she had taught him to lie; and he must love her very much to do that: he had never lied to ht with my father and mother Peter came into our box in a state of intense misery; I could hardly look at hiraht ive her the answer I opened it and this hat I read:

”If you want to do a very kind thing coht Don't say no”

I showed it to Peter, and he said, ”Go” It was from the dark lady; I asked him what she wanted me for and he said she was terribly unhappy

”Ah, Peter,” said I, ”what HAVE you done? ”

PETER: ”I knowit's quite true; but I've broken it off for ever with her”

Nothing he could have said then would have lightened my heart