Kate just stared at her, at her beautiful unlined face and her eyes, as cold as the sea.
"You remarked," continued Stella, 'that divorce does not end a man's career. But this one would. For, should I divorce him and he does not marry a certain lady . namely, Gwendoline Cuthbert-Harris . she will immediately bring up a case against him for seduction,
^5
when she was his patient. "
"You must be mad 1' cried Kate.
"I don't believe a word you say."
"It does sound mad, doesn't it?" said Stella calmly.
"Lady Cuthbert-Harris is a sick woman," said Kate, 'she's neurotic.
You know she is. "
"Aren't we alll' Stella retorted.
"Tell me who isn't suffering from nerves after going through this war.... But she has asked me to divorce Rodney when he returns. She says that she's crazy about. him which, of course, I know, and so do most people. And, she states, he loves her, and that I am the only obstacle in the way of their happiness."
"You're lying!"
"Why should I lie about such a thing?" Stella opened her bag again and, taking out another letter, she said, "Please notice the crest on the envelope and also on the paper.... Now, would you mind listening to this?"
Stella read the letter aloud, raising her eyes every now and again to Kate's white face.
It was the outpourings of a sex-ridden woman, and, as Stella had said, was asking her to divorce Rodney on the grounds of what had taken place between them.
Kate felt sick. She knew it was the letter of a woman who was mentally ill; but she also saw what could be made out of this letter if brought before the public notice. And whether it was or not depended on her.
How was it, Kate thought, she had always sensed disaster would come to him through her? And she fully realised that this woman before her meant every word she said. She was as dangerous as an adder; nothing would stop her reaching her object, and her object, Kate knew, was to have Rodney once more. And if she couldn't get him she would ruin him.
Oh, God, she cried voicelessly, is there no end to it? What must I do?
But, even as she asked, she knew.
But first she would tell this woman that what she had said about Rodney had no effect on her; it was what she would do to him that was forcing her hand.
"You needn't continue 1' she interrupted, her voice quivering.
"I
don't believe a word of it. No, not a worth' You don't? " Stella folded the letter carefully and returned it to her bag.
"However," she continued, 'whether you believe it or not. Miss Hannigan, is beside the point. Should Lady Cuthbert-Harris bring up a case of such a nature on top of my suing for divorce, and she will bring up her case, I'll see to that, what chance do you think Rodney's career will stand? The Medical Board is rather puritanical about the members of its profession, and, should nothing even be proved, Rodney wouldn't be able to stand the strain of it. it would break him.
"I have the advantage in the knowledge I possess of my husband. Miss Hannigan. His affairs were always numerous, but never serious enough to damage his career; and his affairs were secondary things in his life his work came first.
"Have you realised. Miss Hannigan, that nothing matters to him so much as his work? His one aim before the war was to speciali se in children's diseases and child psychology. Should you bring about the end of his career, do you think you would be capable of replacing it in his life?... Remember, once he is struck off the medical register, that will be the end. Sex is not all a man needs. But perhaps you have that to learn.,.. You undoubtedly will learn it should you force my hand. Miss Hannigan."
"What if I refuse to fall in with your plans?" cried Kate, momentarily driven to defiance.
"If I stay he will come to me, and you could do your worst. You lost him years ago.... Even if you get your way and you share the same roof for the rest of your days you'll never have him; I know that. You don't exist for him!" she spat out the last words.
Stella stood up, her face bloodless, and they confronted each other in silence.
Then: "How dare you!" Stella said between her teeth.
She fought to gain control, forcing a smile to her lips.
"Of course, it's foolish to lose one's temper with people of your class. Your speech at any time is apt to be crude.... It only proves to me how soon Rodney would tire of someone having nothing but the flesh to offer him."
Kate remained silent, refusing to be goaded.
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Well, Miss Hannigan; you know my terms," said Stella, hunching her fur coat around her.
"Should you be here the day Rodney returns, which will be in about a week's time, then I will not stay my hand a minute.
And you will be surprised at the number of people who will come forward to help me obtain the divorce. I have found that the people who dislike Rodney are equal in number to those who like him. For instance, there's Mrs. Clarke. It was she, incidentally, who found your letters in the street. It was careless of you to drop them. Miss Hannigan. She thought I ought to know; very good moral sense,
