Fleda hesitated; she felt herself reddening. "I've only said your son wants it. I haven't said I do." "Not yet; remember that I only got here last night." She appeared to herself ignobly weak. "I had had no idea what she was doing; I was taken completely by surprise. She managed it wonderfully."!

"I've got a perfect case—I could have her up. The Brigstocks say it's simple stealing." Her hostess was looking at her hard again. "Didn't he tell you—didn't he say anything about it?"

This stirring speech affected our young lady as if it had been the shake of a tambourine borne towards her from a gypsy dance: her head seemed to go round and she felt a sudden passion in her feet. The emotion, however, was but meagrely expressed in the flatness with which she heard herself presently say: "I'll go to the Registrar now." "I don't see very clearly. Of course you must give her what you offered her; of course you must keep your word. There must be no mistake about that!" the girl declared. "I can easily fancy what the Brigstocks say!" Fleda permitted herself to remark without solemnity.