“Doesn’t she then?”
“Ah, now you’re asking! Officially, very much. Too much, I should say. And too much is just the same as the other thing, I think. Would you like Anita for your bosom friend?”
Naturally I said—
“Anita’s been very kind to me.” Anita’s my cousin, after all. I didn’t like the Baxter girl’s tone.
“Oh, she’s been kind to me.” The Baxter girl caught me up quickly. She was like a sensitive plant for all her crudity. “Oh, I admire Anita. She’s the finest judge of style in England. Jasper Flood says so. You mustn’t think I say a word against Anita. Very kind to me she’s been.” Then, innocently, but her eyes were flickering again—“She was kind to Madala too, till——”
“Well?” I demanded.
“Till Madala was kind to her. Madala’s one of those big people. She’ll never forget what she owes Anita—what Anita told her she owed her. After she made her own name she made Anita’s. Anita, being Anita, doesn’t forget that.”
“How d’you mean—made Anita’s name?”
“Well, look at the people who come here—the people who count. What do you think the draw was? Anita? Oh yes, now. But they came first for Madala. Oh, those early days when Eden Walls was just out! Of course Anita had sense for ten. She ran Madala for all she was worth.”
“Then you do like Madala Grey?”