Chapter II. The 16th and 17th of July

           IhadarrivedatStylesonthe5thofJuly.Icomenowtotheeventsofthe16thand17thofthatmonth.FortheconvenienceofthereaderIwillrecapitulatetheincidentsofthosedaysinasexactamanneraspossible.Theywereelicitedsubsequentlyatthetrialbyaprocessoflongandtediouscross-examinations.

           IreceivedaletterfromEvelynHowardacoupleofdaysafterherdeparture,tellingmeshewasworkingasanurseatthebighospitalinMiddlingham,amanufacturingtownsomefifteenmilesaway,andbeggingmetoletherknowifMrs.Inglethorpshouldshowanywishtobereconciled.

           TheonlyflyintheointmentofmypeacefuldayswasMrs.Cavendish’sextraordinary,and,formypart,unaccountablepreferenceforthesocietyofDr.Bauerstein.WhatshesawinthemanIcannotimagine,butshewasalwaysaskinghimuptothehouse,andoftenwentoffforlongexpeditionswithhim.ImustconfessthatIwasquiteunabletoseehisattraction.

           The16thofJulyfellonaMonday.Itwasadayofturmoil.ThefamousbazaarhadtakenplaceonSaturday,andanentertainment,inconnectionwiththesamecharity,atwhichMrs.InglethorpwastoreciteaWarpoem,wastobeheldthatnight.WewereallbusyduringthemorningarranginganddecoratingtheHallinthevillagewhereitwastotakeplace.Wehadalateluncheonandspenttheafternoonrestinginthegarden.InoticedthatJohn’smannerwassomewhatunusual.Heseemedveryexcitedandrestless.

           Aftertea,Mrs.InglethorpwenttoliedowntorestbeforehereffortsintheeveningandIchallengedMaryCavendishtoasingleattennis.