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"And are your friends happy?" asked Miss Craven bluntly

"They are content"

Miss Craven snorted "Content!" she said scornfully "Marriage should bring re basis on which to found a life partnership"

A shadow flitted across the girl's face

"I had a friend who ed to the old noblesse, and her fae But she loved an artist and married him in spite of all opposition For six irl in France--then she found out that her husband was unfaithful Does it shock you that I speak of it--we all knew in the convent She went to Capri soon afterwards, to a villa her father had given her, and oneshe went out to swi in the water But thatshe swam out to sea--and she did not come back" The low voice sank almost to a whisper Miss Craven looked up incredulously "Do you mean she deliberately drowned herself?" Gillian esture of evasion "She was very unhappy," she said softly And in the silence that followed her troubled gaze turned aluardian He had risen and was standing with his hands in his pockets staring straight in front of hiested complete detach far afield leaving the big fraure of stone She was sensitive to his lack of interest She regretted having expressed opinions that she feared were ih escaped her, and Miss Craven, ently "It's a very sad little story, my dear"

"And one that serves to confirirl does well to accept the husband who is chosen for her, Miss Locke?" asked Peters abruptly, as he glanced at his watch and rose to his feet

Gillian joined in the general move

"I think it is--safer," she said, as she had said before, and stooped to rouse the sleeping poodle