18/78 Suddenly Marie Ivanovna, turning upon us all as though she hated us, cried fiercely: "I think you should know that Mr.Trenchard and I are no longer engaged." It was neither the time nor the place for such a declaration. I cannot suggest why Marie Ivanovna spoke unless it were that she felt life that was betraying her so basely that she, herself, at least, must be honest. We none of us knew what to say. What _could_ we say? We were scarcely aware of one another's names and here was Marie Ivanovna thrusting all these personalities upon us. |