there was practically an understanding between them!"

"Yes. So did most people," replied Penelope shortly.

"For goodness' sake be more explicit, Penny! Surely she hasn't turned
him down?"

"He hasn't given her the chance."

"You mean--you _can't_ mean that he's chucked her?"

"That's practically what it amounts to. And I don't understand it. Nan
is so essentially attractive from a man's point of view."

"How do you know?" queried Kitty whimsically. "You're only a woman."

"Why, because I've used my eyes, my dear! . . . But in this case it
seems we were all mistaken. If ever a man deliberately set himself to
make a woman care, Maryon Rooke was the man. And when he'd succeeded--he
went away."

Kitty produced a small gold cigarette case from the depths of an
elaborate bead bag and extracted a cigarette. She lit it and began
smoking reflectively.

"And I suppose all this, coming on top of the staleness of things in
general after the war, has flattened her out?"

"It's given her a bad knock."