Anna the Adventuress

"You are at least aware," he said, "that you have on several recent

occasions acted in direct opposition to my wishes."

"For example?"

"Your dyed hair. I was perfectly satisfied with your appearance. I

consider even now that the present colour is far less becoming. Then

you have altered not only that, but your manner of dressing it. You

have darkened your eyebrows, you have even changed your style of

dress. You have shown an almost feverish anxiety to eliminate from

your personal appearance all that reminded me of you--when we first

met."

"Well," she said, "has there not been some reason for this? The

likeness to Annabel could scarcely have escaped remark. You forget

that every one is going to the 'Unusual' to see her."

He frowned heavily.

"I wish that I could forget it," he said. "Fortunately I believe that

the relationship is not generally known. I trust that no unpleasant

rumours will be circulated before the election, at any rate."

Annabel yawned.

"They might do you good," she remarked. "'Alcide' is very popular."

Sir John turned towards the door.

"It does not appear to me," he said, stiffly, "to be an affair for

jests."

Annabel laughed derisively and took up her book. She heard her

husband's heavy tread descending the stairs, and the wheels of his

carriage as he drove off. Then she threw the volume away with a little

impatient exclamation. She rose from her chair, and began walking up

and down the room restlessly. Every now and then she fingered an

ornament, moved a piece of furniture, or rearranged some draperies.

Once she stopped in front of a mirror and looked at herself

thoughtfully.

"I am getting plain," she said, with a little shudder. "This life is

killing me! Oh, it is dull, dull, dull!"

Suddenly an idea seemed to strike her. She went to her room and

changed the loose morning gown in which she had lunched for a dark

walking dress. A few minutes later she left the house on foot, and

taking a hansom at the corner of the Square, drove to Anna's flat.

Anna was having tea by herself when she entered. She rose at once with

a little exclamation, half of surprise, half of pleasure.

"My dear Annabel," she said, "this is delightful, but I thought that

it was forbidden."

"It is," Annabel answered shortly. "But I wanted to see you."

Anna wheeled an easy chair to the fire.

"You will have some tea?" she asked.

Annabel ignored both the chair and the invitation. She was looking

about her, and her face was dark with anger. The little room was

fragrant with flowers, Anna herself bright, and with all the evidences

of well being. Annabel was conscious then of the slow anger which had

been burning within her since the night of her visit to the

"Unusual." Her voice trembled with suppressed passion.