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“Gilbert has just told me something that I can hardly bring
myself to believe. He tells me that you're going to divorce him to
marry Reginald Frobisher.”
“Don’t you remember, before I married Gilbert you advised me
to marry a man of my own age. The admiral is fifty-three.”
“But, Jane, you owe everything to Gilbert,” said Mrs. Tower
indignantly. “You wouldn’t exist without him. Without him to design
your clothes, you’ll be nothing.”
“Oh, he’s promised to go on designing my clothes,” Jane
answered blandly.
“No woman could want a better husband. He’s always been
kindness itself to you.”
“Oh, I know he’s been sweet.”
“How can you be so heartless?”
“But I was never in love with Gilbert,” said Jane. “I always told
him that. I’m beginning to feel the need of the companionship of a
man of my own age. I think I’ve probably been married to Gilbert
long enough. The young have no conversation.” She paused a little
and gave us both a charming smile. “Of course I shan’t lose sight of
Gilbert. I've arranged that with Reginald. The admiral has a niece that
would just suit him. As soon as we’re married we’ll ask them to stay
with us at Malta — you know that the admiral is to have the
Mediterranean Command — and I shouldn't be at all surprised if they
fell in love with one another.”
Mrs. Tower gave a little sniff.
“And have you arranged with the admiral that if you want your
liberty neither should put any hindrance in the way of the other?”
“I suggested it,” Jane answered with composure. “But the
admiral says he knows a good thing when he sees it and he won't
want to marry anyone else, and if anyone wants to marry me — he
has eight twelve-inch puns on his flagship and he’ll discuss the matter
at short range.” She gave us a look through her eye-glass which even
the fear of Mrs. Tower’s wrath could not prevent me from laughing
at. “I think the admiral's a very passionate man.”
Mrs. Tower indeed gave me an angry frown.
“I never thought you funny, Jane,” she said, “I never
understood why people laughed at the things you said, I never
thought I was funny myself, Marion,” smiled Jane, showing her