working of the law of contrast it was Pauline's room she thought of as she
ran downstairs.

In the dining-room she noticed with jealous eyes how carefully the plants
in the flower-stands before the windows had been tended, and with what
care and skill the flowers on the table had been arranged. Wilmot hung
round her at tea, pressing her to eat all sorts of dainties, and she could
have easily learnt a great deal about Rhoda. The old servant seemed
anxious to speak of her, anxious to impress Rose with her sweetness and
goodness.

But Rose cut her short. She refused to interest herself in the stranger
who in a few weeks' time would pass out of their lives again. And she grew
cross at last at Wilmot's continual praises of her.

She went back by an earlier train than she had intended. She found that
her aunt and the others would not return till dark; it was no good to wait
for them.

She walked from Victoria to Chelsea along the Embankment, trying to
convince herself that it was good to be in London. But her step flagged as
she went up the stone stairs, and when she got to the flat and found that
Pauline had not returned, a great flood of loneliness rushed over her. She
put her flowers down on the table, and, covering her face with her hands,
she burst into tears.




CHAPTER VIII.