said Isabel after a pregnant silence. "Dear Rowsley, you seem
determined to look after my manners and morals! I asked him to
please Laura. She's nervous of Major Clowes. Jack and Yvonne
are coming too."

"Oh I don't see that it signifies," said Val. Mrs. Clowes
wouldn't have accepted if it weren't all right. I don't see that
you or I need worry if she doesn't. Isabel is old enough to pour
out tea for herself. In any case, as it happens, you'll be here
if I'm not, and I dare say Jimmy will look in for ten minutes."

"You are sweet, Val," said Isabel gratefully.

"Oh I don't say Rowsley's not right! Prigs generally are: and
besides now I come to think of it, Laura did look faintly amused
when I asked her. But these stupid things never occur to me till
afterwards! After all, what am I to do? I can't manufacture a
chaperon, and it would be very bad for the parish if the vicar
never entertained. And it's not as if Captain Hyde were a young
man; he's thirty-six if he's a day."




CHAPTER III


When the sea retreats after a storm one finds on the beach all
sorts of strange flotsam. Bernard Clowes was a bit of human
wreckage left on the sands of society by the storm of the war.