"Frightens you?" His slow, wondering tone made her pull herself together with a little nervous laugh.
"It sounds absurd ... But that's what I meant just now - your arrival will be good for us - create a diversion. Ah, here we are."
They had slipped round the last corner. Gull's Point was built on a plateau of rock overlooking the river. On two sides it had sheer cliff going down to the water. The gardens and tennis court were on the left of the house. The garage, a modern after-thought, was actually farther along the road, on the other side of it.
Mary said: "I'll put the car away now and come back. Hurstall will look after you."
Hurstall, the aged butler, was greeting Thomas with the pleasure of an old friend.
"Very glad to see you, Mr. Royde, after all these years. And so will her ladyship be. You're in the east room, sir. I think you'll find everyone in the garden, unless you want to go to your room first."
Thomas shook his head. He went through the drawing-room to the window, which opened on to the terrace. He stood there a moment, watching unobserved himself.
Two women were the only occupants of the terrace. One was sitting on the corner of the balustrade looking out over the water. The other woman was watching her.
The first was Audrey - the other, he knew, must be Kay Strange. Kay did not know she was being overlooked and she took no pains to disguise her expression. Thomas Royde was not, perhaps, a very observant man where
women were concerned, but he could not fail to notice that Kay Strange disliked Audrey Strange very much.
As for Audrey, she was looking out across the river and seemed unconscious of, or indifferent to, the other's presence.
It was seven years since Thomas had seen Audrey Strange. He studied her now very carefully. Had she changed, and, if so, in what way?
There was a change, he decided. She was thinner, paler, altogether more ethereal-looking - but there was something else, something he could not quite define. It was as though she were holding herself tightly in leash, watchful over every movement - and yet all the time intensely aware of everything going on round her. She was like a person, he thought, who had a secret to hide. But what secret? He knew a little of the events that had befallen her in the last few years. He had been prepared for lines of sorrow and loss - but this was something else. She was like a child who, by a tightly clenched hand over a treasure, calls attention to what it wants to hide.
And then his eyes went to the other woman - the girl who was now Nevile Strange's wife. Beautiful, yes. Mary Aldin had been right. He rather fancied dangerous, too. He thought: I wouldn't like to trust her near Audrey if she had a knife in her hand ... And yet, why should she hate Nevile's first wife? All that was over and done with. Audrey had no part or parcel in their lives nowadays.
Footsteps rang out on the terrace as Nevile came round the corner of the house. He looked warm and was carrying a picture paper. "Here's the Illustrated Review," he said. "Couldn't get the other -"
Then two things happened at precisely the same minute.
Kay said: "Oh, good, give it to me," and Audrey, without moving her head, held out her hand almost absent-mindedly.
Nevile had stopped half-way between the two women. A dawn of embarrassment showed in his face. Before he could speak, Kay said, her voice rising with a slight note of hysteria, "I want it. Give it me! Give it me, Nevile!"
Audrey Strange started, turned her head, withdrew her hand and murmured with just the slightest air of confusion : "Oh, sorry. I thought you were speaking to me, Nevile."
Thomas Royde saw the colour come up brick-red in Nevile Strange's neck. He took three quick steps forward and held out the picture paper to Audrey.
She said, hesitating, her air of embarrassment growing: "Oh, but -"
Kay pushed back her chair with a rough movement. She stood up, then, turning, she made for the drawing-room window. Royde had no time to move before she had charged into him blindly.
The shock made her recoil; she looked at him as he apologised. He saw then why she had not seen him; her eyes were brimming with tears - tears, he fancied, of anger.
"Hullo," she said. "Who are you? Oh! of course, the man from Malaya!" "Yes," said Thomas. "I'm the man from Malaya."
"I wish to God I was in Malaya," said Kay. "Anywhere but here! I loathe this beastly, lousy house! I loathe everyone in it!"
Emotional scenes always alarmed Thomas. He regarded Kay warily and murmured nervously: "Ah - hum."
"Unless they're very careful," said Kay, "I shall kill someone! Either Nevile or that whey-faced cat out there!"
She brushed past him and went out of the room, banging the door.
Thomas Royde stood stock still. He was not quite sure what to do next, but he was glad that young Mrs. Strange had gone. He stood and looked at the door that she had slammed so vigorously. Something of a tiger cat, the new Mrs. Strange.
The window was darkened as Nevile Strange paused in the space between the trench windows. He was breathing rather fast.
He greeted Thomas vaguely.
"Oh - er - hullo, Royde, didn't know you'd arrived. I say, have you seen my wife?"
"She passed through about a minute ago." said the other.
Nevile in his turn went out through the drawing-room door. He was looking annoyed.
Thomas Royde went slowly through the open window. He was not a heavy walker. Not until he was a couple of yards away did Audrey turn her head.
Then he saw those wide-apart eyes open wider, saw her lips part. She slipped down from the wall and came towards him, hands outstretched.
"Oh, Thomas," she said. "Dear Thomas! How glad I am you've come!"
As he took the two small white hands in his and bent down to her Mary Aldin in her turn arrived at the French windows. Seeing the two on the terrace she checked herself, watched them for a moment or two, then slowly turned away and went back into the house.
II
Upstairs Nevile had found Kay in her bedroom. The only large double-bedroom in the house was Lady Tressilian's. A married couple was always given the two rooms with communicating door and a small bathroom beyond on the west side of the house. It was a small isolated suite.
Nevile passed through his own room and on into his wife's. Kay had flung herself down on her bed. Raising a tear-stained face, she cried out angrily: "So you've come! About time, too!"
"What is all this fuss about? Have you gone quite crazy, Kay?"
Nevile spoke quietly, but there was a dent at the corner of his nostril that registered restrained anger.
"Why did you give that Illustrated Review to her and not to me?"
"Really, Kay, you are a child. All this fuss about a wretched little picture paper."
"You gave it to her and not to me," repeated Kay obstinately.
"Well, why not? What does it matter?"
"It matters to me."
"I don't know what's wrong with you. You can't behave in this hysterical fashion when you're staying in other people's houses. Don't you know how to behave in public?"
"Why did you give it to Audrey?" "Because she wanted it." "So did I, and I'm your wife."
"All the more reason, in that case, for giving it to an older woman and one who, technically, is no relation."
"She scored off me! She wanted to and she did. You were on her side!"
"You're talking like an idiotic, jealous child. For goodness' sake, control yourself, and try and behave properly in public!"
"Like she does, I suppose?"
Nevile said coldly: "At any rate, Audrey can behave like a lady. She doesn't make an exhibition of herself."
"She's turning you against me! She hates me and she's getting her revenge."
"Look here, Kay, will you stop being melodramatic and completely foolish? I'm fed up!"
"Then let's go away from here! Let's go to-morrow. I hate this place!" "We've only been here four days." "It's quite enough! Do let's go, Nevile."
"Now look here, Kay. I've had enough of this. We came here for a fortnight, and I'm going to stay for a fortnight."
"If you do," said Kay, "you'll be sorry. You and your Audrey! You think she's wonderful!"
"I don't think Audrey is wonderful. I think she's an extremely nice and kindly person, whom I've treated very badly and who has been most generous and forgiving."
"That's where you're wrong," said Kay. She got up from the bed. Her fury had died down. She spoke seriously - almost soberly.
"Audrey hasn't forgiven you, Nevile. Once or twice I've seen her looking at you ... I don't know what is going on in her mind, but something is ... She's the kind that doesn't let anyone know what they're thinking."
"It's a pity," said Nevile, "that there aren't more people like that."
Kay's face went very white.
"Do you mean that for me?" There was a dangerous edge to her voice.
"Well - you haven't shown much reticence, have you? Every bit of ill-temper and spite that comes into your mind you blurt straight out. You make a fool of yourself and you make a fool of me!"
"Anything more to say?" Her voice was icy.
He said in an equally cold tone: "I'm sorry if you think that was unfair. But it's the plain truth. You've no more self-control than a child."
"You never lose your temper, do you? Always the self-controlled, charming-mannered little pukka sahib! I don't believe you've got any feelings. You're just a fish - a damned cold-blooded fish! Why don't you let yourself go now and then? Why don't you shout at me, swear at me, tell me to go to Hell?"
Nevile sighed. His shoulders sagged.
"Oh, Lord," he said.
Turning on his heel he left the room.
III
"You look exactly as you did at seventeen, Thomas Royde," said Lady Tressilian. "Just the same owlish look. And no more conversation now than you had then. Why not?"
Thomas said vaguely: "I dunno. Never had the gift of the gab." "Not like Adrian. Adrian was a very clever and witty talker." "Perhaps that's why. Always left the talking to him." "Poor Adrian. So much promise." Thomas nodded.
Lady Tressilian changed the subject. She was granting an audience to Thomas. She usually preferred her visitors one at a time. It did not tire her and she was able to concentrate her attention on them.
"You've been here twenty-four hours," she said. "What do you think of our Situation?"
"Situation?"
"Don't look stupid. You do that deliberately. You know quite well what I mean. The eternal triangle which has established itself under my roof."
Thomas said cautiously: "Seems a bit of friction." Lady Tressilian smiled rather diabolically.
"I will confess to you, Thomas, I am rather enjoying myself. This came about through no wish of mine - indeed, I did my utmost to prevent it. Nevile was obstinate. He would insist on bringing these two together - and now he is reaping what he has sown!"
Thomas Royde shifted a little in his chair.
"Seems funny," he said.
"Elucidate," snapped Lady Tressilian.
"Shouldn't have thought Strange was that kind of chap."
"It's interesting your saying that. Because it is what I felt. It was uncharacteristic of Nevile. Nevile, like most men, is usually anxious to avoid any kind of embarrassment or possible unpleasantness. I suspected that it wasn't originally Nevile's idea - but, if not, I don't see whose idea it can have been." She paused and said with only the slightest upward inflexion: "It wouldn't be Audrey's?"
Thomas said promptly: "No, not Audrey's."
"And I can hardly believe it was that unfortunate young woman, Kay's, idea. Not unless she is a really remarkable actress. You know, I have almost felt sorry for her lately."
"You don't like her much, do you?"
"No. She seems to me empty-headed and lacking in any kind of poise. But, as I say, I do begin to feel sorry for her. She is blundering about like a daddy-longlegs in lamp-light. She has no idea of what weapons to use. Bad temper, bad manners, childish rudeness - all things which have a most unfortunate-effect upon a man like Nevile."
Thomas said quietly: "I think Audrey is the one who is in a difficult position."
Lady Tressilian gave him a sharp glance.
"You've always been in love with Audrey, haven't you, Thomas?"
His reply was quite imperturbable. "Suppose I have."
"Practically from the time you were children together?"
He nodded.
"And then Nevile came along and carried her off from under your nose?"
He moved uneasily in his chair.
"Oh, well -I always knew I hadn't a chance."
"Defeatist," said Lady Tressilian.
"I always have been a dull dog."
"Dobbin!"
"Good old Thomas! - that's what Audrey feels about me."
"‘True Thomas,'" said Lady Tressilian. "That was your nickname, wasn't it?"
He smiled as the words brought back memories of childish days. "Funny! I haven't heard that for years."
"It might stand you in good stead now," said Lady Tressilian. She met his glance clearly and deliberately.
"Fidelity," she said, "is a quality that anyone who has been through Audrey's experience might appreciate. The dog-like devotion of a lifetime, Thomas, does sometimes get its reward."
Thomas Royde looked down, his fingers fumbled with a pipe.
"That," he said, "is what I came home hoping."
IV
"So here we all are," said Mary Aldin.
Hurstall, the old butler, wiped his forehead. When he went into the kitchen, Mrs. Spicer, the cook, remarked upon his expression.
"I don't think I can be well, and that's the truth?," said Hurstall. "If I can so express myself, everything that's said and done in this house lately seems to me to mean something that's different from what it sounds like - if you know what I mean."
