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speak to him.
At dinner Jean-Paul was unceasingly attentive, talking
to her, watching her, smiling at her. She was grateful for
the shield of his presence. Behind that shield she could
build up her defences again. Marc must not be allowed to
bulldoze them down again.
She and Jean-Paul each had a need of each other, she
was under no illusions about his flattering attentions. He
wanted to heal his pride, wounded by Pallas.
The rest of the table was more divided. Pallas barely
spoke at all. Sam was absorbed by his shish-kebabs and
sweet, orange-flavoured gateau. Helene seemed distrait and
nervous, and Mrs. Lillitos was apparently quite lacking
appetite. Marc spoke anxiously as she sent away her plate,
barely touched, but she unsmilingly shook her head,
obviously telling him that she was quite well.
Kate looked back at the time before the arrival of Marie-
Louise and Helene, and wished it was back. There had been
more ease in the party then. They had been quite happy.
After dinner Marc retired to his office. His mother went
to bed, with Helene in attendance, and Kate soon' followed,
feeling very low in spirits.
She heard voices from Mrs. Lillitos’s bedroom, and
thought that it was charming to see such affection between
Helene and her mother-in-law, particularly since Paul
Lillitos had died so long ago. Would Marie-Louise get such a
warm welcome into the family? She felt somehow, that Mrs.
Lillitos did not like the other woman. She was always polite
to her, yet there was a coldness between them. Marie-
Louise was always cloyingly eager to flatter Mrs. Lillitos.
