"I am not aware," she answered, "that I have ever failed in doing so."
"You are at least aware," he said, "that you have on several recent occasions acted in direct opposition to my wishes."
"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."
"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."
"They might do you good," she remarked. "'Alcide' is very popular."
"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."