" But I should n'*t call Mn Van Loo an idiot, He has the
reputation of being a cautious business man*"



THEEE PAETNERS

Mrs, Barker bit lier lip. Her companioii had been
recognized, Sbe rose with a slight flirt of her skirt. ** I
suppOEe I muBt go and get a room j there was Bobody in
the office when T came. Everything ib badly managed here
since my father toek away the beet servants to Hymettus/'
She moved with affected carelessness towards the door when
Mri. Horn castle J without rising from her seat, said ; —

« Why not stay here ? ''

Mrs, Barker brightened for a moment. " Oh/^ she said^
with polite deprecation^ " I could n't think of turning you
out"

" I don't intend you shall," said Mrs, Horneastle. " We
will stay here together until you go with me to Hymettus,
or until Mr, Van Loo leaves the hoteL He will hardly
attempt to come in here again if I remain. "

l^Irs. Barker, with a half-laugh, sat down irresolutely*
Mrs. Horncastle gazed at her curiously ; she was evidently
a novice in this sort of thing. But, strange to say, — and
I leave the ethics of this for the sex to settle, — the fact
did not soften Mrs. Horncastle' s heart, nor in the least
qualify her attitude towards the younger woman. After an
awkward pause Mrs. Barker rose again. '^ Well, it 's very
good of you, aud — and — I '11 just run out and wash my
hands and get the dust off me^ and come back."

''Ho, Mrs. Barker," said Mrs. Horncastle, rising and
approaching her, " you will first wash your hands of this
Mr, Van Loo, and get some of the dust of the rendezvous
off you before you do anything else* Yoti can do it by
simply telling him, should you meet him in the hall^ that
I was sitting here when he came in, and heard everything!
Depend upon it, he won't trouble you again.''

But Mrs, Barker, though inexperienced in love, was a
good fighter. The best of the sex are. She dropped
into the rocking-chair, and began rocking backwards and
forwards while still tugging at her glovss, and saidj in a



p



THREE PARTNERS 87

gradually warming voice, "I certainly shall not magnify
Mr. 