'
She seemed in a most contrary mood that evening. For instance, William
had remarked quite nicely and affably that he considered smoking
pernicious for women. He said his mother had always declared it was,
and he thought they were better without it. Whereupon Marion, who
dislikes the weed as a general rule, immediately got up, took a
cigarette from the box on the table and asked William for a light.
'I suppose I'm shocking you terribly,' she remarked to him.
[Illustration: 'I suppose I'm shocking you terribly.']
'I don't think there's anything you could do that would shock me now,'
he replied. It was rather a peculiar retort, especially as he laid a
faint accent on the 'you.' Evidently he wished to have his revenge for
what she had said to him at dinner.
'I smoke even in bed,' said Marion, regarding him steadily. I was at a
loss to understand why she told this deliberate falsehood.
'So do I,' said William calmly.
'I smoke in the bath,' continued Marion.
'By Jove, so do I,' said William, looking at her with a new interest.
'But don't you find it rather awkward when you're washing your back?'
Marion looked rather scandalized, as though she considered William's
remark in bad taste. But she had only herself to blame after all. She
was silent and rather moody after that, until the episode of the
photograph occurred. We were assembled in the drawing-room, and I
suddenly noticed that a photo of Marion which stands on the mantelpiece
had been removed from its frame.
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