Miss Le Mesurier repeated her question impatiently, and Fielding suddenly realised that Miss Le Mesurier’s pique might prove useful in setting matters right.  He determined to encourage it.

‘None that I’m aware of,’ he replied.  ’Mrs. Willoughby, of course, would be likely to know first.’

‘Why?’

’Haven’t you noticed?  They have struck up a great friendship lately—­always pair off together, you know.’

Miss Le Mesurier’s lips curled at the despicable phrase, but she blamed Mrs. Willoughby for the fact which it described, not Sidney Mallinson.  His attitude she could understand, and make allowance for; it had been a despairing act prompted by an instinct of self-preservation to rid himself of the hopeless thought of her.  An unsuccessful act too, for the poor fellow had broken down.  She had no doubts as to the origin of his illness, and overflowed promptly with sympathy.  Her resentment against Mrs. Willoughby none the less remained.

Driving homewards she asked her, ’Why didn’t you tell me before that Mr. Mallinson was ill?’

’My dear, I never gave a thought to it until I saw Mr. Fielding.  The illness isn’t serious,’ and Mrs. Willoughby laughed, with peculiar heartlessness thought Clarice.  They were, however, not thinking of the same individual.

Mrs. Willoughby, Clarice, and Fielding in consequence suffered some such change in their relative positions as is apt to take place amongst the European Powers.  Poor Mrs. Willoughby, in the innocent pursuit of her own ideas, had suddenly roused two former friends into a common antagonism.  These friends, besides, had much the same grounds for resentment as the Powers usually have, for Mrs. Willoughby’s conduct was a distinct infringement of rights which did not exist.  Clarice and Fielding drew perceptibly nearer to one another; they exchanged diplomatic pourparlers.  Fielding found a great deal to praise in Mallinson, and Clarice had a word or two to say upon the score of widows.  She was doubtful whether they ought ever to re-marry.  Fielding kept an open mind on the subject, but was willing to discuss it.  On the particular point, however, whether this widow was to marry Mallinson they were both uncompromisingly agreed, and were only hindered from an armed demonstration by the suspicion that the sinner to the overawed would merely laugh at it.  On the whole Fielding deemed it best to address a friendly remonstrance to Mrs. Willoughby in the interests of Clarice.  He suggested that she should see less of Sidney Mallinson.

‘But I have no grounds for slamming my door in his face,’ she answered plaintively.  ’You see, Clarice has refused him, and really he’s very sweet and polite to me.’