Halcyone

Chapter 26

Mrs. Cricklander felt it would be discreet and in perfect taste if she

announced her intention of going off to Carlsbad the week after her

engagement was settled--she was always most careful of decorum. And, if

the world of her friends thought John Derringham was well enough to be

making love to her in the seclusion of her own house, it would be much

wiser for her to show that she should always remain beyond the breath of

any gossip.

In her heart she was bored to tears. For nearly the whole of June she

had been cooped up at Wendover--for more than half the time without even

parties of visitors to keep her company--and she loathed being alone.

She had no personal resources and invariably at such times smoked too

much and got agitated nerves in consequence.

John Derringham--stron