“What are you going to do?,” he asked.
“I don’t know. I didn’t mean to talk to you about this. I only wanted you not to give me away to Aunt Connie.” She stood up and looked round the room for a mirror. “Do I look very awful? I cried myself sick last night.”
“Come into the next room and tidy up,” he suggested.
“I could drown myself!,” she cried.
He gave her a clean handkerchief and watched her thoughtfully as she bathed and dried her eyes. When she took off her hat and smoothed her short dark hair, she would have passed anywhere as a slim boy of fifteen masquerading in a woman’s black dress. As he watched her, his mind went back to their first conversation in New York, and he felt that he had foreseen everything as well as if she carried her future branded on her forehead. It was a tragedy from which he could see no escape, perfect material for the third act of a play; and the psychology and emotion had been presented to him without any strain on his imagination... But artistic detachment was an indecency when a mere child was being ruined and heartbroken for the passing pleasure of a man like Gaymer. She was spiritually ruined whether Gaymer married her or not....
“You mustn’t talk like that,” he said gently. “I’m going to think whether I can suggest anything. May I take you home? A walk will do me good.”
They left Ryder Street and crossed the Park without exchanging six words. Here and there the passers-by paused and looked back to marvel at their preoccupation, for both walked with knitted brows and bent heads, Ivy to hide her red eyes, and Eric to concentrate his thoughts with no other distraction than brown gravel and grey flag-stones. They said good-bye in Eaton Place after arranging to meet at the opera.
Eric turned back towards Grosvenor Place and walked to the Thespian Club. As he entered the dining-room, a hand was laid on his arm. Carstairs was lunching with Deganway, and they greeted him with an air of grievance.
“You’ve just cut us once. Don’t make a habit of it,” said Deganway.
“I’m sorry! May I join you? And tell me where I cut you.”