I moved a step nearer to him.  ’William, I should never have forgiven you if you had,’ I said, raising my face to his so that he could see how intensely earnest I was.

The door opened, and Henry and Marion came in together.

‘Netta!’ exclaimed Marion, ‘how could you!’

‘My dear,’ remarked Henry, ’I am surprised.  How is it I come in and find a man kissing you?’

‘I don’t know, Henry,’ I replied meekly, ’unless it’s because that door opens so quietly!’

CHAPTER XV

An exclamation from William made us all turn and look at him.

‘I must have been mad,’ he groaned, sinking into a chair and covering his face with his hands.

’That’s what I thought myself just now when I caught sight of your waistcoat,’ said Henry, staring at him.  ’What is the meaning of all this—­why the flawless trousers, the immaculate morning coat?’

’I—­I—­put on a morning coat because you said I wasn’t to get into evening dress,’ he replied.  ’I know it isn’t the correct thing for dinner, but you’ve only yourself to blame.’

Henry continued to stare at him.  ’I was quite right.  Your brain is unhinged, William.  When I last saw you, you appeared fairly normal—­and now I come in and discover you arrayed like the lilies of the field and kissing my wife.’

William gave a cry like a wounded animal.  ’Your indictment is only too true.  Henry, it is terrible.  I can never even hope for your forgiveness for such a heinous offence.  The only reparation I can make is to go forth from your house, shake from my feet the dust of your hospitable roof——­’

‘That metaphor’s wrong, William,’ I interposed.

‘—­and pass out of your lives for ever.’

‘What on earth are you talking about, old chap?’ inquired Henry.

‘Have I not betrayed the trust you always reposed in me?’

‘I wouldn’t put it as strong as that,’ replied Henry, eyeing him up and down, ’though you certainly have made a bit of a guy of yourself.  Who created those trousers?’

’I—­I—­was not referring to my change of apparel, Henry, but to that most unfortunate aberration on my part, when I was impelled by some strange uncontrollable impulse to bestow a labial salute on your wife.  Heaven only knows that I——­’

‘As for that, I expect she egged you on,’ calmly rejoined that horrid Henry.  ‘I know her.  You did flirt with him, didn’t you, Netta?’

Before I could reply William sprang to his feet and placed himself before me.  ‘Stop, Henry!’ he exclaimed, ’You have no right to suggest such a thing.  If I took a gentle unsuspecting woman unawares, then I am willing to stand by the consequences of my rash act.  Never for one moment, I can assure you, did such a thought enter Mrs. Warrington’s head.  She was wholly unprepared——­’

‘I’m not so sure of that,’ put in Marion, with a sniff.