"Dudley is working hard. He feels as if he ought to stay in town this summer."
"That's too bad—for him. But you don't have to be uncomfortable just because you're married to him."
Carmelita smiled. That was the philosophy of Lucy's set. She would probably hear a lot more of that kind of talk while she remained at Hedgewood. Her hostess rose.
"Well, I'll abandon you now, my dear. I suppose you'll want to bathe and dress for dinner. Just ring for Yvonne when you need her to draw your bath."
Lucy strolled out, with a curious, calculat'ing glance back at her guest which Carmelita did not catch.
Carmelita summoned the maid and had her unpack her bags and lay the contents away. As she let down her hair and removed her travel-crushed clothes and enveloped her warm, youthful body in the soft folds of a dressing gown, the silent, efficient Yvonne was regulating the taps in the next room and arranging the bath rugs and towels. A glow of pure pleasure and satisfaction with the world crept over Carmelita. Once more she was the pampered daughter of the de Cordobas with the universe, through Yvonne, its representative, ready to do her bidding. As the maid appeared at the connecting door
