“What is all this about Mrs. Travis?” inquired Mrs. Lessingham, with a smile, when she came to visit Cecily.  Reuben was out, and the ladies sat alone in the drawing-room.

Cecily explained what had happened, but in simple terms, and without meaning to show that any difference of opinion had arisen between her and Reuben.

“You have heard of it from Mrs. Travis herself?” she asked, in conclusion.

“Yes.  She expressed no resentment, however; spoke as if she thought it a little odd, that was all.  But what has Reuben got into his head?”

“It seems he has heard unpleasant rumours about her.”

“Then why didn’t he come and speak to me?  She is absolutely blameless:  I can answer for it.  Her husband is the kind of man—­ Did you ever read Fielding’s ‘Amelia’?  To be sure; well, you understand.  I much doubt whether she is wise in leaving him; ten to one, she’ll go back again, and that is more demoralizing than putting up with the other indignity.  She has a very small income of her own, and what is her life to be?  Surely you are the last people who should abandon her.  That is the kind of thing that makes such a woman desperate.  She seems to have made a sort of appeal to you.  I am but moderately in her confidence, and I believe she hasn’t one bosom friend.  It’s most fortunate that Reuben took such a whim.  Send him to me, will you?”

Cecily made known this request to her husband, and there followed another long dialogue between them, the only result of which was to increase their mutual coldness.  Cecily proposed that they should at once leave town, instead of waiting for the end of the season; in this way all their difficulties would be obviated.  Elgar declined the proposal; he had no desire to spoil her social pleasures.

“That is already done, past help,” Cecily rejoined, with the first note of bitterness.  “I no longer care to visit, nor to receive guests.”

“I noticed the other day your ingenuity in revenging yourself.”

“I say nothing but the simple truth.  Had you rather I went out and enjoyed myself without any reference to your wishes?”

“From the first you made up your mind to misunderstand me,” said Reuben, with the common evasion of one who cannot defend his course.

Cecily brought the dispute to an end by her silence.  The next morning Reuben went to see Mrs. Lessingham, and heard what she had to say about Mrs. Travis.

“What is your evidence against her?” she inquired, after a little banter.

“Some one who knows Travis very well assured me that the fault was not all on his side.”

“Of course.  It is more to the point to hear what those have to say who know his wife, Surely you acted with extraordinary haste.”

With characteristic weakness, Elgar defended himself by detailing the course of events.  It was not he who had been precipitate, but Cecily; he was never more annoyed than when he heard of that foolish letter.