He sat himself beside Priscilla.

Entered Mrs.John Cormyn, voluminous; Mrs.Peter Yatt, effervescent; Nataly's own people were about her and she felt at home.
Mrs.Blathenoy pushed a small thorn into it, by speaking of Captain Fenellan, and aside, as if sharing him with her.

Nataly heard that Dartrey had been the guest of these Blathenoys.

Even Dartrey was but a man! Rather lower under her voice, the vain little creature asked: 'You knew her ?' 'Her ?' The cool counter-interrogation was disregarded.

'So sad! In the desert! a cup of pure water worth more than barrow-loads of gold! Poor woman!' 'Who ?' 'His wife.' 'Wife!' 'They were married ?' Nataly could have cried: Snake! Her play at brevity had certainly been foiled.