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foresee the end； she will come to her husband with the announcement
that their longed…for child is going to be born； and that will
smooth over everything。 So conveniently effective； to wind up a
comedy with the commencement of someone else's tragedy。 And every
one will go away saying 'I'm glad it had a happy ending。'〃
Lady Veula moved back to her seat； with her pleasant smile on her
lips and the look of infinite weariness in her eyes。
The interval； the last interval； was drawing to a close and the
house began to turn with fidgetty attention towards the stage for
the unfolding of the final phase of the play。 Francesca sat in
Serena Golackly's box listening to Colonel Springfield's story of
what happened to a pigeon…cote in his compound at Poona。 Everyone
who knew the Colonel had to listen to that story a good many times；
but Lady Caroline had mitigated the boredom of the infliction； and
in fact invested it with a certain sporting interest； by offering a
prize to the person who heard it oftenest in the course of the
Season； the competitors being under an honourable understanding not
to lead up to the subject。 Ada Spelvexit and a boy in the Foreign
Office were at present at the top of the list with five recitals
each to their score； but the former was suspected of doubtful
adherence to the rules and spirit of the competition。
〃And there； dear lady；〃 concluded the Colonel； 〃were the eleven
dead pigeons。 What had become of the bandicoot no one ever knew。〃
Francesca thanked him for his story； and complacently inscribed the
figure 4 on the margin of her theatre programme。 Almost at the
same moment she heard George St。 Michael's voice pattering out a
breathless piece of intelligence for the edification of Serena
Golackly and anyone else who might care to listen。 Francesca
galvanised into sudden attention。
〃Emmeline Chetrof to a fellow in the Indian Forest Department。
He's got nothing but his pay and they can't be married for four or
five years； an absurdly long engagement； don't you think so？ All
very well to wait seven years for a wife in patriarchal times； when
you probably had others to go on with； and you lived long enough to
celebrate your own tercentenary； but under modern conditions it
seems a foolish arrangement。〃
St。 Michael spoke almost with a sense of grievance。 A marriage
project that tied up all the small pleasant nuptial gossip…items
about bridesmaids and honeymoon and recalcitrant aunts and so
forth； for an indefinite number of years seemed scarcely decent in
his eyes； and there was little satisfaction or importance to be
derived from early and special knowledge of an event which loomed
as far distant as a Presidential Election or a change of Viceroy。
But to Francesca； who had listened with startled apprehension at
the mention of Emmeline Chetrof's name； the news came in a flood of
relief and thankfulness。 Short of entering a nunnery and taking
celibate vows； Emmeline could hardly have behaved more conveniently
than in tying herself up to a lover whose circumstances made it
necessary to relegate marriage to the distant future。 For four or
five years Francesca was assured of undisturbed possession of the
house in Blue Street； and after that period who knew what might
happen？ The engagement might stretch on indefinitely； it might
even come to nothing under the weight of its accumulated years； as
sometimes happened with these protracted affairs。 Emmeline might
lose her fancy for her absentee lover； and might never replace him
with another。 A golden possibility of perpetual tenancy of her
present home began to float once more through Francesca's mind。 As
long as Emmeline had been unbespoken in the marriage market there
had always been the haunting likelihood of seeing the dreaded
announcement； 〃a marriage has been arranged and will shortly take
place；〃 in connection with her name。 And now a marriage had been
arranged and would not shortly take place； might indeed never take
place。 St。 Michael's information was likely to be correct in this
instance； he would never have invented a piece of matrimonial
intelligence which gave such little scope for supplementary detail
of the kind he loved to supply。 As Francesca turned to watch the
fourth act of the play； her mind was singing a paean of
thankfulness and exultation。 It was as though some artificer sent
by the Gods had reinforced with a substantial cord the horsehair
thread that held up the sword of Damocles over her head。 Her love
for her home； for her treasured household possessions； and her
pleasant social life was able to expand once more in present
security； and feed on future hope。 She was still young enough to
count four or five years as a long time； and to…night she was
optimistic enough to prophesy smooth things of the future that lay
beyond that span。 Of the fourth act； with its carefully held back
but obviously imminent reconciliation between the leading
characters； she took in but little； except that she vaguely
understood it to have a happy ending。 As the lights went up she
looked round on the dispersing audience with a feeling of
friendliness uppermost in her mind； even the sight of Elaine de
Frey and Courtenay Youghal leaving the theatre together did not
inspire her with a tenth part of the annoyance that their entrance
had caused her。 Serena's invitation to go on to the Savoy for
supper fitted in exactly with her mood of exhilaration。 It would
be a fit and appropriate wind…up to an auspicious evening。 The
cold chicken and modest brand of Chablis waiting for her at home
should give way to a banquet of more festive nature。
In the crush of the vestibule； friends and enemies； personal and
political； were jostled and locked together in the general effort
to rejoin temporarily estranged garments and secure the attendance
of elusive vehicles。 Lady Caroline found herself at close quarters
with the estimable Henry Greech； and experienced some of the joy
which comes to the homeward wending sportsman when a chance shot
presents itself on which he may expend his remaining cartridges。
〃So the Government is going to climb down； after all；〃 she said；
with a provocative assumption of private information on the
subject。
〃I assure you the Government will do nothing of the kind；〃 replied
the Member of Parliament with befitting dignity； 〃the Prime
Minister told me last night that under no circumstances … 〃
〃My dear Mr。 Greech；〃 said Lady Caroline； 〃we all know that Prime
Ministers are wedded to the truth； but like other wedded couples
they sometimes live apart。〃
For her； at any rate； the comedy had had a happy ending。
Comus made his way slowly and lingeringly from the stalls； so
slowly that the lights were already being turned down and great
shroud…like dust…cloths were being swaythed over the orname