〃I'm　sure　when　Charlie　went　back　on　me　with　that　girl　from　the　Dairy；　nobody　could　have　been　kinder　than　Miss　Grey　was；　and　though　particular　about　the　brasses　and　the　dust；　she　was　always　one　to　notice　when　you'd　give　a　thing　an　extra　rub。　Cut　myself　in　little　pieces　for　her；　I　would；　any　day。　A　real　lady；　that's　what　I　call　her。〃

Such　was　Katherine's　departure　from　St　Mary　Mead。

Chapter　8

LADY　TAMPLIN　WRITES　A　LETTER

〃Well；〃　said　Lady　Tamplin；　〃well。〃

She　laid　down　the　continental　Daily　Mail　and　stared　out　across　the　blue　waters　of　the　Mediterranean。　A　branch　of　golden　mimosa；　hanging　just　above　her　head；　made　an　effective　frame　for　a　very　charming　picture。　A　golden…haired；　blue…eyed　lady　in　a　very　being　negligee。　That　the　golden　hair　owed　something　to　art；　as　did　the　pink…and…white　plexion；　was　undeniable；　but　the　blue　of　the　eyes　was　Nature's　gift；　and　at　forty…four　Lady　Tamplin　could　still　rank　as　a　beauty。

Charming　as　she　looked；　Lady　Tamplin　was；　for　once；　not　thinking　of　herself。　That　is　to　say；　she　was　not　thinking　of　her　appearance。　She　was　intent　on　graver　matters。　Lady　Tamplin　was　a　well…known　figure　on　the　Riviera；　and　her　parties　at　the　Villa　Marguerite　were　justly　celebrated。　She　was　a　woman　of　considerable　experience；　and　had　had　four　husbands。　The　first　had　been　merely　an　indiscretion；　and　so　was　seldom　referred　to　by　the　lady。　He　had　had　the　good　sense　to　die　with　mendable　promptitude；　and　his　widow　thereupon　espoused　a　rich　manufacturer　of　buttons。　He　too　had　departed　for　another　sphere　after　three　years　of　married　life　…　it　was　said　after　a　congenial　evening　with　some　good　panions。　After　him　came　Viscount　Tamplin；　who　had　placed　Rosalie　securely　on　those　heights　where　she　wished　to　tread。　She　had　retained　he