Darragh said: "The new mistress of Harrod Place has selected your quarters, Eve. They adjoin the quarters of her friend, the Countess Orloff-Strelwitz."
"Valentine begged me," said Ricca, smiling. "She is going to be lonely without me. All hours of day and night we were trotting into one another's rooms----" She looked gravely at Eve: "You will like Valentine; and she will like you very much. ... As for me -- I already love you."
She put one arm around Eve's shoulders: "How could you even think of remaining here all alone? Why, I should never close my eyes for thinking of you, dear."
Eve's head drooped; she said in a stifled voice: "I'll go with you. ... I want to. ... I'm very -- tired."
"We had better go now," said Darragh. "Your things can be brought over later. If you'll dress for snow-shoeing, Jack can pack what clothes you need. ... Are there snow-shoes for him, too?"
Eve turned tragically to her lover: "In Dad's closet----" she said, choking; then turned and went up the stairs, still clinging to Ricca's hand and drawing her with her.
Stormont followed, entered Clinch's quarters, and presently came downstairs again, carrying Clinch's snow-shoes and a basket pack.
He seated himself near Darragh. After a silence: "Your wife is beautiful, Jim. ... Her character seems to be even more beautiful. ... She's like God's own messenger to Eve. ... And -- you're rather wonderful yourself----"
"Nonsense," said Darragh, "I've given my wife her first American friend and I've done a shrew stroke of business in nabbing the best business associate I ever heard of----"
"You're crazy but kind. ... I hope I'll be some good. ... One thing; I'll never get over what you've done for Eve in this crisis----"
"There'll be no crisis, Jack. Marry, and hook up with me in business. That solves everything. ... Lord! -- what a life Eve has had! But you'll make it all up to her ... all this loneliness and shame and misery of Clinch's Dump----"
Stormont touched his arm in caution: Eve and Ricca came down the stairs -- the former now in the grey wool snow-shoe dress, and carrying her snow-shoes, black gown, and toilet articles.
Stormont began to stow away her effects in the basket pack; Darragh went over to her and took her hand.
"I'm so glad we are to be friends," he said. "It hurt a lot to know you held me in contempt. But I had to go about it that way."