and Nan are just made for each other."

He winced a little, as though she had laid her finger on a raw spot.

"Hush, Kitten," he said quietly. "Don't cry so! These things happen
and we've got to face them."

Kitty subsided into a chair and mopped her eyes.

"It's wicked--wicked that you should be tied up to a woman like
Celia--a woman who's got no more soul than this chair!"--banging the
chair-arm viciously.

"And you mustn't say things like that, either," chided Peter, smiling
at her very kindly.

As he spoke there came the sound of footsteps, and the voices of Barry
and Penelope could be heard as they approached Kitty's den, by way of
the corridor.

"I owe you a bob, then," Barry was saying in his easy, good-natured
tones. "You beat me fair and square that last game, Penny."

Kitty sprang up, suddenly conscious of her tear-stained face.

"Oh, I can't see them---not now! Peter, stop them from coming here!"

A moment later Mallory came out of the room and met the approaching
couple before they had reached the door.