He had to pack for an early start next morning.  In a bedroom where a prince might have slept, he threw himself into an easychair and brooded.  Roselle became more than ever desirable, as he imagined her, sitting in that shaded tea room, her fur coat opened and thrown back to show the fragile corsage underneath.  She was romance; the fairy tale, which he had read and mislaid, found again.  Putting his hand up, he pulled out his wife’s letter, and read it again cursorily before casting it into the wastepaper basket.

How dull it was!  What a lack of sparkle and spontaneity it showed!  Something seemed to happen to women after marriage, making them prosaic; growing little nagging consciences in them; egging them on to a perpetual striving with things that were damned tiresome.  And the letter that he would write back would be just as constrained; there would be no joy in the writing of it as there would be writing the letters that would be sent to Roselle.

* * * * *

“MY DEAR OSBORN” (Marie wrote), “Thank you for your letter.  You are very good to write so regularly every mail.  We are so glad to know what a successful trip you are having.  We are all very well; and mother gave the children a tree for Christmas, and we hung your box of sweets and my scent on it.  They couldn’t think how you had managed to put them there!  Thank you so much for the scent.  I am having the dining-room carpet cleaned.  The children send their love and so do I.—­Your affectionate wife,

  “MARIE.”

  “P.S.—­Baby has cut another tooth.”

“My God!” said Osborn resignedly, as he tore the letter across.  “Marriage is a big mistake.  To tie oneself up for life at twenty-seven...!”

* * * * *

Osborn was in Chicago, prospering exceedingly, when Roselle’s second letter came.

She was in the same city!

He hurried to her without a moment’s loss.  She was staying at a boarding-house full of noisy young business people, among whom she was a sensation.  She received Osborn in a great smudged parlour decorated with much gilt and lace curtains.

“Aren’t you surprised?”

“I was never so glad.”

“I expect you were.  I expect you’ve been as glad ever so many times.”  She looked at him shrewdly.  “I didn’t tell you in New York,” she said, letting her hand remain in his.  They were alone in the horrible room.  “But my contract was for the passage out and three months playing with Sautree; not for the passage home.  You see, I wanted to get out here somehow and see what I could do.  It does one good to have been in the States.”

“And now—­”

“I’m at a loose end.”

She saw the quick flush on his face and the light in his eyes, and playfully put against his lips two fingers, which he kissed.

“Only temporarily of course.  I’m going round the hotels to-day—­I shall get plenty of entertaining to do.  When I’m tired of this, I shall move on.”