Her vivid friend, moreover, had got before her; he clearly suffered from the nature of the control he had to exercise. "Don't do that, miss—you won't care for it at all." Then as she waveringly stood her ground, "It's not a place for a young lady, nor, if you'll believe me, a sight for them as are in any way affected." What did he want her to understand? He seemed unable to bring it out, and this understanding was moreover exactly what she wished not to arrive at. Bewildered as she was, she had already taken in as much as she should know what to do with; the blood also was rushing into her face. He liked her—it was stupefying—more than he really ought: that was what was the matter with him and what he desired her to assimilate; so that she was suddenly as frightened as some thoughtless girl who finds herself the object of an overture from a married man.!

Fleda marveled: her companion had in an instant become young again. "Away from Mona? How in the world—?" "So as not to aggravate Mona?" Fleda suggested.

Fleda gave a faint, stubborn smile. "He cares for her too much." "I'm very, very tired." Mrs. Gereth's slow head-shake was tragic. "I couldn't do it again." "I dare say she wasn't. But the less she's satisfied the more I'm free."