After a moment’s pause Frank answered.

“I don’t know what you want,” he said.  “I talked to you myself, and you wouldn’t listen.  So I thought perhaps another woman would do it better—­”

“I did listen—­”

“I beg your pardon,” said Frank instantly.  “I was wrong.  You did listen, and very patiently.  I meant that you wouldn’t do what I said.  And so I thought—­”

Gertie burst out again, against cats and sneaking hypocrites, but there was not quite the same venom in her manner.

“Very good,” said Frank.  “Then I won’t make the mistake again.  I am very sorry—­not in the least for having interfered, you understand, but for not having tried again myself.” (He took up his cap.) “You’ll soon give in, Gertie, you know.  Don’t you think so yourself?”

Gertie looked at him in silence.

“You understand, naturally, why I can’t talk to you while the Major’s here.  But the next time I have a chance—­”

The unlatched door was pushed open and the Major came in.

(II)

There was an uncomfortable little pause for a moment.  It is extremely doubtful, even now, exactly how much the Major heard; but he must have heard something, and to a man of his mind the situation that he found must have looked extremely suspicious.  Gertie, flushed now, with emotion very plainly visible in her bright eyes, was standing looking at Frank, who, it appeared, was a little disconcerted.  It would have been almost miraculous if the Major had not been convinced that he had interrupted a little private love-making.

It is rather hard to analyze the Major’s attitude towards Gertie; but what is certain is that the idea of anyone else making love to her was simply intolerable.  Certainly he did not treat her with any great chivalry; he made her carry the heavier bundles on the tramp; he behaved to her with considerable disrespect; he discussed her freely with his friends on convivial occasions.  But she was his property—­his and no one else’s.  He had had his suspicions before; he had come in quietly just now on purpose, and he had found himself confronted by this very peculiar little scene.

He looked at them both in silence.  Then his lips sneered like a dog’s.

“Pardon me,” he said, with extreme politeness.  “I appear to be interrupting a private conversation.”

No one said anything.  Frank leaned his elbow on the mantelpiece.

“It was private, then?” continued the Major with all the poisonous courtesy at his command.

“Yes; it was private,” said Frank shortly.

The Major put his bowler hat carefully upon the table.

“Gertie, my dear,” he said.  “Will you be good enough to leave us for an instant?  I regret having to trouble you.”