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She smiled at him 'No, just the weather…'

'Good old English weather,' he grinned 'It always comes up trumps! Every continental holiday I've ever had I've come back to find weather like this—laid on specially, I suspect' He was a s spot at the front of his head, his grey eyes quietly reflective He had built up his firm from a small affair started by his father between the torld wars to a giant which was spreading across Europe at an alarhter afraid that James Brinton was atoo fast, beyond the grasp of one mind

'You look tired, Dad,' she said, her expression anxious as she surveyed him

'I've just been to see your rimly, his eyes on the rain-s

'Oh' She bit her lip Her parents had been divorced when she was in her teens Her beautiful blondewith a South A a brief note for her husband Marie had cried in secret, but in public had affected an in­difference which had gradually become second nature to her From ti incredibly young and beautiful, draped in expensive furs and dripping with diaarmfuls of ludicrously inap­propriate presents for Marie Once it had been a large doll which talked in three languages Another time it had been a party dress four sizes too s that she was still a little girl long after she had grown up Marie had protested about this to her father, only to see him smile a little sadly and say 'My dear, yourold While she can believe that you're still a little girl, she can believe that she's still young Once she's forced to ade mentally, and that will destroy her'

She thought of this conversation noatching her father's face Did he still love her s of her mind, anyway, and he had never betrayed any bitterness or hatred towards her in Marie's land, but he gave no indication of his feelings normally, and she had no idea how he felt about her

'She wants to see you tonight,' Ja at her

Marie grimaced 'Must I?'

'She's your ently

'Whenever she remembers the fact,' Marie said with bitterness and clarity

'All the sa glance 'Try to be kind to her, Marie'

So in his tone made Marie stare at him 'Why? What do you mean?'

'Her husband is dead,' said James Brinton carefully

'I see' Marie re cheer­ful South American without fondness

'His sons have inherited everything,' James Brinton added without expression