"They live apart," explained Kitty. "She's one of those restless,
excitable women, always craving to be right in the limelight, and she
simply couldn't stand Peter's literary work. She was frantically
jealous of it--wanted him to be dancing attendance on her all day long.
And when his work interfered with the process, as of course it was
bound to do, she made endless rows. She has money of her own, and
finally informed Peter that she was going to India, where she has
relatives. Her uncle's a judge, and she's several Army cousins married
out there."

"Do you mean she has never come back?" gasped Penelope.

"No. And I don't think she intends to if she can help it. She's the
most thoroughly selfish little beast of a woman I know, and cares for
nothing on earth except enjoyment. She's spoiled Peter's life for
him"--Kitty's voice shook a little--"and through it all he's been as
patient as one of God's saints."

"Still, they're better apart," commented Barry. "While she was living
with him she made a bigger hash of his life than she can do when she's
away. She was spoiling his work as well as his life. And old Peter's
work means a lot to him. He's still got that left out of the wreckage."

"Yes," agreed Kitty, "and of course he's writing better than ever now.
Everyone says _Lindley's Wife_ is a masterpiece."

Nan had been very silent during this revelation of Mallory's
unfortunate domestic affairs. The discovery that he was already
married came upon her as a shock. She felt stunned. Above all, she