"What then did she mean to do?" "His engagement to marry? Why, it's just that engagement we loathe!"!

"Mine?" Fleda looked vague. "Go on—I can bear it now," said Mrs. Gereth. Her companion had just perceptibly paused.

The ring of his question made his anger at Mona almost resemble for a minute an anger at Fleda; and this resemblance in turn caused our young lady to observe how handsome he looked when he spoke, for the first time in her hearing, with that degree of heat, and used, also for the first time, such a term as "perpetrated." In addition, his challenge rendered still more vivid to her the mere flimsiness of her own aid. "Yes, you've been perfect," she said. "You've had a most difficult part. You've had to show tact and patience, as well as firmness, with your mother, and you've strikingly shown them. It's I who, quite unintentionally, have deceived you. I haven't helped you at all to your remedy." "Write to him that you must see him again," said Mrs. Gereth. "I haven't the least idea," Fleda repeated.