“If I might have one prayer granted now,” she said in a low voice, “it would be that he might forget me utterly. Forget he’d ever seen me. I’ve got to get through life without him, but that’s nothing compared to what he——”
She did not finish the sentence, but Rose understood.
CHAPTER XXIV
“COME and take off your things,” suggested Cecily. Her tone indicated that conversation henceforward was to be of a surface nature, and again Rose understood.
While she took toilet things from her travelling-bag, and straightened her hair, they talked of Cecily’s journeyings, of travelling adventures, of the places she had visited—and later of Diana and her love affairs.
“It will be all right, I think,” Cecily said, laughing a little. “Isn’t she quaint about it, though? But he’s a nice boy.”
When they returned to the drawing-room, and Cecily had settled herself into her favorite chair, she said, comfortably:
“There’s one good thing, we sha’n’t be disturbed this afternoon. No one knows I’m home yet.”
“I’m sorry to have to break it to you, but every one knows!” exclaimed Rose, laughing. “The day I had your telegram I happened to be in town in the afternoon, and I met Lady Wilmot.” She paused dramatically.
Cecily groaned. “You told her, of course?”