Mrs. Strickland clasped herhands.

"Tell me exactly whatshe said. " And when I hesitated, she insisted. "I particularly wantto know. "

"You know the waypeople talk. She's not very reliable, is she? She said your husband had leftyou. "

"Is that all?"

I did not choose to repeatRose Waterford's parting reference to a girl from a tea-shop. I lied.

"She didn't sayanything about his going with anyone?"

"No. "

"That's all I wanted toknow. "

I was a little puzzled, butat all events I understood that I might now take my leave. When I shook handswith Mrs. Strickland I told her that if I could be of any use to her I shouldbe very glad. She smiled wanly.

"Thank you so much. Idon't know that anybody can do anything for me. "

Too shy to express mysympathy, I turned to say good-bye to the Colonel. He did not take my hand.

"I'm just coming. Ifyou're walking up Victoria Street, I'll come along with you. "

"All right, " Isaid. "Come on. "

思特里克兰德太太拍了一下巴掌。

“她是怎么说的，把她的原话一个字不差地告诉我。”我有点儿踌躇，她却坚持叫我讲。“我特别想知道她怎么谈论这件事。”

“你知道别人怎么谈论。她这个人说话靠不住，对不对？她说你的丈夫把你丢开了。”

“就说了这些吗？”

我不想告诉她柔斯·瓦特尔芙德分手时讲到茶点店女侍的那句话。我对她扯了个谎。

“她说没说他是跟一个什么人一块走的？”

“没有。”

“我想知道的就是这件事。”

我有一些困惑莫解，但是不管怎么说我知道现在我可以告辞了。当我同思特里克兰德太太握手告别的时候我对她说，如果有什么事需要我做，我一定为她尽力。她的脸上掠过一丝笑影。

“非常感谢你。我不知道有谁能替我做什么。”

我不好意思向她表示我的同情，便转过身去同上校告别。上校并没有同我握手。

“我也要走。如果你从维多利亚路走，我跟你同路。”

“好吧，”我说，“咱们一起走。”