'If you please, my lady, there's someone called to see you.'
Eugenia looked up in surprise. She was in the library, occupied in cataloguing Lord Selsey's books.
'It's a—well—it's not exactly a young person, my lady. She says she's sure you will see her. The name is Miss Yeo.'
'Miss Yeo?' Eugenia looked puzzled. 'Show her in at once.'
'I'm afraid you hardly remember me, Lady Selsey,' she said. 'We met last summer. I was Miss Verney's companion.'
Eugenia held out her hand cordially.
'Of course, I remember you very well. Why, it was here we met! At that musical party! Do sit down, Miss Yeo. Won't you take off your mackintosh?'
'No, thanks. I must apologise for intruding. The fact is I've come about something important. It's about Mrs Reeve.'
'Mrs Reeve?' Eugenia leant eagerly forward. 'Do, do tell me! Anything about her interests me so much.'
'You'll think me very impertinent, Lady Selsey. But I can't help it.
I'll come straight to the point.'
'Mrs Reeve has had a terrible quarrel with her husband. She would have left him this morning, but that I persuaded her to wait. I came to tell you because I felt sure you would be sorry. It's about you, Lady Selsey.'
'Yes. She saw you driving with her husband, and he didn't mention it. She's jealous of you. Of course he explained it, but she doesn't believe him. I thought he probably would not say anything about it to you. I know, of course, it's a sort of misunderstanding. But I thought perhaps you could do something about it to make it all right.'
'I am grieved,' said Eugenia, clasping her hands. 'You know Cecil was an old friend of mine, don't you? I met him again after many months, and in a foolish impulse we went for a drive. That is all, of course. Miss Yeo, I'm sure you're her true friend. This quarrel must be made up. What can I do? What do you advise?'
'Even if this particular quarrel is patched up, she would always be suspicious and jealous of you. It makes her miserable.'
'Poor darling, how ridiculous! I'm sure I'd be only too pleased never to see the silly boy again.'
'I quite understand all that, but, you see, she's very proud. That sort of rupture—all being connected as you are—would be noticeable to other people, and she's very sensitive—she couldn't stand it.'
'Suppose we went away somewhere for a year? That would give her time to forget this nonsense. My husband has been trying to persuade me to go to the Ionian Islands with him—yachting. He'll be only too pleased if I say I will. I'm a wretched sailor, but if it would do any good—'
'It would be perfect. It would all come right.'
'Then I'll do it. I had asked them to dinner for next week. I haven't had an answer yet. I'll telegraph, putting them off, and explaining why.'
'That would be splendid,' said Anne.
'Then it's settled,' answered Eugenia briefly.
'Of course it must be understood that you know nothing about it—I mean about the quarrel,' she said.
'Of course not. Not a soul, not my husband, nor Cecil, nor his wife shall ever know a word about your visit, Miss Yeo.'
'That is very kind of you, Lady Selsey. I—well, you know I'm devoted to Hyacinth. At first I was almost selfishly glad about this. I could have got her back. We could have gone away together. But I can't see her miserable. She has such a mania for Cecil Reeve! Isn't it extraordinary?'
'Most extraordinary,' replied Eugenia emphatically.
'And since she's got him, she may as well be happy with him,' Anne added.
'Of course. And she will. This misunderstanding won't do any harm in the long run,' said Eugenia. 'If he had any real fear of losing her, it would do him a great deal of good. He's devoted to her really, more than either of them knows.'
'I daresay,' said Anne dryly. 'It's sure to be fixed up soon, and then
I'm going away too.'
'Oh, I don't know. I feel I'm not in the picture. I hate the sight of turtle-doves. If I've been able to do her a good turn in this little trouble, it will be a great consolation where I'm going.'
'I'm afraid you're not happy, Miss Yeo?' said Eugenia impulsively.
'I don't know that I am, particularly. But does it matter? We can't all be happy.'
'I'm sorry. I want everyone to be happy.'
'I suppose it's always a mistake to make an idol of anyone,' said Anne. 'I'm afraid Hyacinth thinks that is what her husband has done about you.'
'That would indeed be inexcusable!'
'She thought that the hopelessness of it had made him idealise you, and even that worried her; but when she saw you together, and it seemed—well, concrete treachery—she was furious.'
'It will bring them nearer than they have ever been before,' assured
Eugenia.
'Good-bye,' said Anne. 'I'll write to you—once—and tell you what has happened.'
'Do, and be quick; I shall be busy buying yachting dresses. By the way, you might take the telegram.'
'Frightfully sorry, dinner next week unavoidably postponed as unexpectedly leaving town for season. Writing. Eugenia Selsey.'
'I will write to her when I've arranged it with my husband.'