If she expected to disconcert him, she was disappointed. He informed her at length as to the health, appearance, and conjugal felicity of Mrs. Rossiter.
"They're actually pulling it off," he said interestedly. "They're making a go of it. I've always had the theory that once a divorcée always a divorcée—the old-fashioned gentlewoman is more to my taste. Divorce always seems to me so—so unnecessary—But in this case it appears I am mistaken, and nobody is happier to admit it. They positively fancy each other, Philemon and Baucis, all that sort of thing!—By the way, I had no idea you had made such friends with May. You gave her my bracelet, it seems. Cruel of you, Joan!"
"Did it hurt your feelings?" she murmured, dimpling.
"Oh, frightfully. How did you have the heart? She positively gloated over me."
"Father would never have allowed me to accept anything so handsome from a passing acquaintance. One had to do something with it, you see, so—"
"Passing acquaintance!" he interrupted, reproachfully. "Surely I was more to you than that? Our evening under the beech-tree—shall I ever forget it?"
Joan, paling a little, remarked, "Sister Veronica appears interested."
"Damn!" muttered Eduard, and shortly took his leave. But first he gave her a note from Mrs. Desmond urging her to dine with them on any evening she cared to name.
"Betty is abroad," wrote Mrs. Desmond, "and I know you have no heart for gaieties just now, so there will be only the four of us, a family party."
Joan hesitated.