For a moment Hilary had the sensation of being stiffed by
fold on fold of that blue gauze scarf, as if he were doomed to drive for
ever, suffocated, by the side of this woman who had killed his love for
her.
"You will do what you like, of course," she said suddenly.
A desire to laugh seized Hilary. "What do you wish me to do?" "You will
do what you like, of course!" Could civilised restraint and tolerance go
further?
"B." he said, with an effort, "the wife is jealous. We put the girl into
that house--we ought to get her out."
Blanca's reply came slowly.
"From the first," she said, "the girl has been your property; do what
you like with her. I shall not meddle."
"I am not in the habit of regarding people as my property."
"No need to tell me that--I have known you twenty years."
Doors sometimes slam in the minds of the mildest and most restrained of
men.
"Oh, very well! I have told you; you can see Hughs when he comes--or
not, as you like."
"I have seen him."
Hilary smiled.
"Well, was his story very terrible?"
"He told me no story."
"How was that?"
Blanca suddenly sat forward, and threw back the blue scarf, as though
she, too, were stifling. In her flushed face her eyes were bright as
stars; her lips quivered.
"Is it likely," she said, "that I should listen? That's enough, please,
of these people.
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