The suddenness of his action so surprised her that she tottered a little.  He made a swift move towards her; but in a second she had recovered herself, and he drew back.  She saw that his face was very pale.

“Are you quite sure of that?” he asked.

She did not answer him.  Shaking from head to foot, she stood facing him.  But words would not come.

After a desperate moment the tension was relaxed.  He turned on his heel.

“Well, I have warned you,” he said, and strode heavily away.

The moment she ceased to hear his footsteps, Nina sank down into a chair and burst into tears.

VI

AN OFFER OF HELP

On the following morning Nina did not descend the stairs till she had heard the car leave the house.  The strain of the previous night’s interview had told upon her.  She felt that she had not the resolution to face such another.

The heat was intense.  She remembered with regret that she had promised to attend a charitable bazaar in the City that afternoon.  Somehow she could summon no relish either for that or the prospect of the theatre with Archie at night.  She wondered whither her husband had proposed to take her, half wishing she had yielded a point to go.

She went to the bazaar, fully prepared to be bored.  The first person she saw, however, was Archie, and at once the atmosphere seemed to lighten.

He attached himself to her without a moment’s delay.

“I say,” he said, “send your car back!  I’ll take you home.  I’ve got my hansom here.  It’s much more exciting than a motor.  We’ll go and have tea somewhere presently.”

Nina hesitated for barely a second, then did as he required.

Archie’s eyes were frankly tender.  But, after all, why not?  They had known each other all their lives.  She laughed at the momentary scruple as they strolled through the bazaar together.

Archie bought her an immense fan—­“to keep off the flies,” as he elegantly expressed it; and she made a few purchases herself as in duty bound, and conversed with several acquaintances.

Then, her companion becoming importunate for departure, she declined tea in the hall and went away with him.

Archie was enjoying himself hugely.

“Now, where would you like to go for tea?” he asked as they drove away.

“I don’t care in the least,” she said, “only I’m nearly dead.  Let it be somewhere close at hand.”

Archie promptly decided in favour of a tea-shop in St. Paul’s Churchyard.

“I suppose you have read the morning papers?” he said, as they sat down.  “I thought your husband had something up his sleeve.”

“What do you mean?” queried Nina quickly.  “No, I know nothing.”

Archie laughed.