The interest shown in her by Colonel Dunwoody she could not understand, any more than she could why the Lesters had made her their guest, and Clarice Carr seemed so devoted to her.
She dared not speak to her in public, as it was known that Ruth met no one, nor cared to. She must see her, then, at the major’s. So she plotted to do so in her own way. That way was to get Mrs. Lester and Clarice away for some reason, and then go and call, for the major would be either on duty or at the club.
There was to be a gathering of the ladies for their weekly talks over acts of charity, sewing for the soldiers’ children, or parties, dinners, or excursions to be held, and so Nina planned to have the meeting when the major would be absent and Mrs. Lester and Clarice would have to attend.
She used Mrs. De Sutro her kinswoman as a catspaw, telling her that she wished to give a party and that Mrs. Lester and Clarice were to be consulted, while she, Nina, was to be kept in ignorance of the affair.
Then she went to visit an officer’s wife living nearest to the Lesters, and when she saw, from her seat in the window, first the major go out, then the two ladies, she waited until they entered her own house and then ended her visit abruptly.
At once she walked by the Lester home, and suddenly turned into the gate. Running up the steps, she opened the door and called aloud:
“Clarice! Clarice!”
At the same time she entered the sitting-room. At her call Ruth Arden, who was there, arose, and, meeting her, said pleasantly:
“Miss Carr and Mrs. Lester have both gone out. May I ask who it is that I shall tell them called?”
Nina de Sutro was taken aback, for she beheld before her a woman of a beauty of face and form she had not dreamed she possessed.