it； if I may。〃
〃Oh； dear；〃 Katherine thought to herself； 〃how extraordinarily alike the world seems to be everywhere！ People were always telling me things in St Mary Mead； and it is just the same thing here； and I don't really want to hear anybody's troubles！〃
She replied politely：
〃Do tell me。〃
They were just finishing their lunch。 Ruth gulped down her coffee； rose from her seat； and quite oblivious of the fact that Katherine had not begun to sip her coffee； said： 〃e to my partment with me。〃
They were two single partments with a municating door between them。 In the second of them a thin maid； whom Katherine had noticed at Victoria； was sitting very upright on the seat； clutching a big scarlet morocco case with the initials R。V。K。 on it。 Mrs Kettering pulled the municating door to and sank down on the seat。 Katherine sat down beside her。
〃I am in trouble and I don't know what to do。 There is a man whom I am fond of … very fond of indeed。 We cared for each other when we were young； and we were thrust apart most brutally and unjustly。 Now we have e together again。〃
〃Yes？〃
〃I … I am going to meet him now。 Oh！ I dare say you think it is all wrong； but you don't know the circumstances。 My husband is impossible。 He has treated me disgracefully。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Katherine again。
〃What I feel so badly about is this。 I have deceived my father … it was he who came to see me off at Victoria today。 He wishes me to divorce