had she married Crayven? Why had he been willing to marry her?
Teresa was quite aware that her own position in the company was that of "Crayven's flame." Adela, no doubt, had heralded her in that capacity to her friends. She could see it in the eyes of the other two women—mother and daughter, with a puzzlingly equal quality of jaded youth. She knew that Crayven's plan for the summer had been altered because of her, and undoubtedly Adela knew it, too. Possibly he had been expected to join the motoring-party. That seemed unlikely, yet a few words of Adela's indicated it. Nothing, at any rate, was farther from his idea at present, as he plainly showed.
The luncheon prolonged itself in liqueurs and cigarettes till after three o'clock. Ernesto arranged that they should all meet again for tea, to the music of the band. Then he was to dine with Adela, who was obviously pleased with him; but Nina and Teresa started at six on their drive back up the mountain. Crayven said, as he put them into the carriage:
"They're all off to-morrow, thank heaven. I shall come up by the late post."
Next morning came a telephone message from Ernesto to Nina, ordering clothes to be sent down to him by special messenger. He was going off for a fortnight in the motor. Nina sent the clothes, and came to pour out her woes to Teresa.
