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THE IMPOSSIBLE WORD 223and she's got to keep her promise.I'm rather sorryin some ways, St. George.I don't know of a manI'd sooner have for a brother-in-law if a brother-inlawwas convenient. I haven't a thing against him,Saintnot a thing except that he won't see and can'tbe made to see that the Kaiser is a menace to the peaceof Europe. That's his blind spot. But he's good companyand I like him. A woman can say anything shelikes to a man with a mouth like John Meredith's andbe sure of not being misunderstood. Such a man ismore precious than rubies, Saint and much rarer,George. But he can't have Rosemary and I supposewhen he finds out he can't have her he'll drop us both.And we'll miss him, Saint we'll miss him somethingscandalous, George. But she promised, and I'll seethat she keeps her promise!"Ellen's face looked almost ugly in itslowering resolution.Upstairs Rosemary was cryinginto herpillow.So Mr. Meredith found his lady alone and lookingvery beautiful.Rosemary had not made any specialtoilet for the occasion ;she wanted to, but she thoughtit would be absurd to dress up for a man you meant torefuse. So she wore her plain dark afternoon dressand looked like a queen in it. Her suppressed excitementcoloured her face to brilliancy, her great blueeyes were pools of light less placid than usual.She wished the interview was over. She had lookedforward to it allday with dread. She felt quite sure