'Surely you understand. And don't trouble to come and see me any more.'

He looked at her. Her suave social dexterity had vanished. Her eyes were
dark with purely human instinctive jealousy. They looked at each other a
moment, then Lord Selsey came up and said--

'I'm afraid my attempt at originality hasn't been quite a success. The
concert's not as harmonious as I hoped. Come and have tea, Miss Verney.'


Hyacinth did not speak a word to Anne on their way home, nor did she
refer to the afternoon, nor answer any remark of Anne's on the subject
till that evening, when Anne came into her room to complain of the
electric light and make fun of Lord Selsey's guests. Then she found
Hyacinth sobbing, and saying--

'I shall get over it. I shall be all right tomorrow. I'm going to cut
him out of my life!'

'He'll soon cut in again,' said Anne.

'Indeed he won't! I'm not going to be played with. Preferring an old
Japanese who doesn't even _like_ him, and then making a fool of me!'

'If she ran after him, and you begged him to stick to her, it would be
the other way,' said Anne.

'What do you mean? Hasn't he any real preference?'