"The place," said I, "is parading before us."
"We might hire a car and run over to Etretat."
"There's Liosha," I objected. "We can't leave her alone and she's not in a mood for jaunts."
"She won't leave her room to-day, poor girl. It must be awful for her. Oh, that swine of a blighter!"
His wrath exploded again over the iniquitous Fendihook. For the dozenth time we went over the story.
"What on earth are we going to do with her?" he asked. "She can't go back to the boarding-house."
"For the time being, at any rate, I'll take her down to Barbara."
"Barbara's a wonder," said he fervently. "And do you know, Hilary, there's the makings of a devilish fine woman in Liosha, if one only knew the right way to take her."
The right way, I think, was known to me, but I did not reveal it. I assented to Jaffery's proposition.
"She has a vile temper and the mind and facile passions of a Spanish gipsy, but she has stunning qualities. She's the soul of truth and honour and as straight as a die. And brave. This has been a nasty knock for her; but I don't mind betting you that as soon as she has pulled herself together she'll treat the thing quite in a big way."