Now at last the other forgot to be shy， forgot everythingexcept that they were both women， and gasped out： “I can’t goon no longer like this. I can’t bear it. I can’t bear it. I shall doaway with myself. I can’t bear no more.”
“You shan’t have to. I’ll look after you. Don’t cry any more.
Don’t you see what a good thing it was that you met me？ We’llhave tea and You’ll tell me everything. And I shall arrangesomething. I promise. Do stop crying. It’s so exhausting.
Please！”
The other girl did stop just in time for Rosemary to get upbefore the tea came. She had the table placed between them. Sheplied the poor little creature with everything， all the sandwiches，all the bread and butter， and every time her cup was empty shefilled it with tea， cream and sugar. People always said sugar wasso nourishing. As for herself she didn’t eat； she smoked andlooked away tactfully so that the other should not be shy.
And really the effect of that slight meal was marvelous.
When the tea-table was carried away a new being， a light， frailcreature with tangled hair， dark lips， deep， lighted eyes， layback in the big chair in a kind of sweet languor， looking at theblaze. Rosemary lit a fresh cigarette； it was time to begin.
“And when did you have your last meal？” she asked softly.
But at that moment the door-handle turned.
“Rosemary， may I come in？” It was Philip.
“Of course.”
He came in. “Oh， I’m so sorry，” he said， and stopped andstared.
“It’s quite all right，” said Rosemary， smiling. “This is myfriend， Miss—”
“Smith， madam，” said the languid figure， who was strangelystill and unafraid.
“Smith，” said Rosemary. “We are going to have a little talk.”
“Oh yes，” said Philip. “Quite，” and his eye caught sight of thecoat and hat on the floor. He came over to the fire and turnedhis back to it. “It’s a beastly afternoon，” he said curiously， stilllooking at that listless figure， looking at its hands and boots，and then at Rosemary again.
“Yes， isn’t it？” said Rosemary enthusiastically. “Vile.”
Philip smiled his charming smile. “As a matter of fact，”
said he， “I wanted you to come into the library for a moment.
Would you？ Will Miss Smith excuse us？”
The big eyes were raised to him， but Rosemary answeredfor her： “Of course she will.” And they went out of the roomtogether.
“I say，” said Philip， when they were alone. “Explain. Who isshe？ What does it all mean？”
Rosemary， laughing， leaned against the door and said： “Ipicked her up in Curzon Street. Really. She’s a real pick-up.
She asked me for the price of a cup of tea， and I brought herhome with me. ”
“But what on earth are you going to do with her？” criedPhilip.
“Be nice to her，” said Rosemary quickly. “Be frightfully niceto her. Look after her. I don’t know how. We haven’t talkedyet. But show her—treat her—make her feel—”
“My darling girl，” said Philip， “you’re quite mad， you know.
It simply can’t be done.”
“I knew you’d say that，” retorted Rosemary. Why not？ Iwant to. Isn’t that a reason？ And besides， one’s always readingabout these things. I decided—”
“But，” said Philip slowly， and he cut the end of a cigar， “she’sso astonishingly pretty.”
“Pretty？” Rosemary was so surprised that she blushed. “Doyou think so？ I—I hadn’t thought about it.”
“Good Lord！” Philip struck a match. “She’s absolutelylovely. Look again， my child. I was bowled over when I cameinto your room just now. However... I think you’re making aghastly mistake. Sorry， darling， if I’m crude and all that. Butlet me know if Miss Smith is going to dine with us in time forme to look up The Milliner’s Gazette.”
“You absurd creature！” said Rosemary， and she went outof the library， but not back to her bedroom. She went to herwriting-room and sat down at her desk. Pretty！ Absolutelylovely！ Bowled over！ Her heart beat like a heavy bell. Pretty！
Lovely！ She drew her check-book towards her. But no， checkswould be of no use， of course. She opened a drawer andtook out five pound notes， looked at them， put two back， andholding the three squeezed in her hand， she went back to herbedroom.
Half an hour later Philip was still in the library， whenRosemary came in.
“I only wanted to tell you，” said she， and she leaned againstthe door again and looked at him with her dazzled exotic gaze，“Miss Smith won’t dine with us tonight.”
Philip put down the paper. “Oh， what’s happened？ Previousengagement？”
Rosemary came over and sat down on his knee. “Sheinsisted on going，” said she， “so I gave the poor little thing apresent of money. I couldn’t keep her against her will， could I？”
she added softly.
Rosemary had just done her hair， darkened her eyes a littleand put on her pearls. She put up her hands and touchedPhilip’s cheeks.
“Do you like me？” said she， and her tone， sweet， husky，troubled him.
“I like you awfully，” he said， and he held her tighter. “Kissme.”
There was a pause.
Then Rosemary said dreamily： “I saw a fascinating little boxtoday. It cost twenty-eight guineas. May I have it？”
Philip jumped her on his knee. “You may， little wastefulone，” said he.
But that was not really what Rosemary wanted to say.
“Philip，” she whispered， and she pressed his head against herbosom， “am I pretty？”