and placed the other before her as she resumed her seat,

"What is the meaning of all this?"

64

Of all what, Frank? I don't understand."

"Of all this. The caviar, and that letter in your book. It's from John, isn't it? He always did use blue stationery. Isn't it from John?"

She flushed slightly as she glanced down at the envelope. She put her hand to her forehead and rubbed her head slowly against it. "Yes," she answered quietly, "it's from John."

"What are you doing? Carrying on a secret correspondence with that snivelling

? "

"Frank," she interrupted him sharply, "I'm not carrying on a secret correspondence with John. There's nothing secret about it. You never asked me if I were in touch with him, and I never mentioned it to you because I knew it would only make you as angry as you are now. After all, Frank, you disowned John, I didn't, and you can't deny me the right to

"I'm not denying you one single thing, Helen. But I don't suppose that you might just happen to realize what day this is, do you?"

What day?" She looked at him quizzically. "Why, it's the twenty-seventh She stopped, her eyes widening, and looked at him, her mouth slightly agape.

"Yes, Helen," he smiled sarcastically, "today is the twenty-seventh of July. Has it by any chance dawned on you now what happened a year ago today? As if you didn't know."

"Oh, Frank. Frank, please believe me. I didn't know, I didn't even think of it

11

Not much you didn't. What do you mean by flaunting his letters around, defying me to say anything. Splurging on caviar and wine. Making a real celebration out of it, aren't you? What do you want me to do, drink a toast? I'll drink a toast all right." He picked up his glass, made a mock salute, and then

"