“Well ...” she began to judge slowly.  Then “I suppose there’s no help for it.”

Two tears dropped down her face.  She sobbed and checked herself.  She heard her husband moving about quickly in his dressing-room, and she hurried off her own garments, let down her hair, and brushed and plaited it hastily.  He came in and kissed her.

“She’s had a good time!” he exclaimed, well pleased.

CHAPTER XVI

ISOLATION

Julia was waiting for a guest in that weird institution which she called her club.  The weird institution, however, had lost some of its weirdness and gained in comfort and cachet.  It now boasted many members of distinction, new decorations and enlarged subscriptions.  Miss Julia Winter sat in the mauve drawing-room under soft light, in the delicate glow of which her face took on suave and gentle lines, and her eyes held hints of womanly mystery.  Before her, one of the many tables of the club drawing-room stood furnished with blue-and-white tea equipage.  Behind her back, as she sat settled in the corner of a chesterfield, a fat silk pillow was crushed.  For a picture of modern bachelor-womanhood which knew how to do itself thoroughly well, Julia could not, in these moments, have been excelled.

The door opened and a page, after assuring himself of Miss Winter’s presence, announced:  “Mrs. Kerr!”

A quiet and slender woman, in a shabby suit dated some six years ago, came to meet Julia listlessly.  Her listlessness, however, was only bodily, for into her eyes some eager spirit had leapt and her hands went out involuntarily.  They were engulfed in Julia’s well-shaped large ones, and Marie was drawn down upon the mauve couch and the fat pillow made to transfer its amenities.

Each woman looked at the other with a long, careful look.

“How comfortable this is!” Marie observed.

“Is it, dear?” said Julia.  “Lean back and rest.  You look tired.  Been shopping?”

“Just a few things for the children; I take the opportunity of being in town, you know.”

“Did you come up this morning?”

“Yes, before lunch.  Mother’s staying in the flat with the children.”

“How are they all—­your big family of three?”

“Awf’ly well, thank you.  Baby’s got a tooth.”

“How splendid!  I just must come and see her again.  And Georgie?”

“George has grown a lot since you saw him last.  I’ve been hunting about for a little jersey suit for him; they’re all so expensive; I’ll have to knit one myself.”

“My dear girl!  When do you get time to knit jersey suits?”

“In the evenings, when dinner is over.  There’s always an hour or so before bedtime, you know.”

After a short silence, Julia asked:  “I suppose you have lunched, dear?  Otherwise I’ll order sandwiches.”

“I’ve lunched, thank you.”