Fleda thought an instant. "You mean makes her hesitate to keep you—not hesitate to renounce you?" "I can't tell you what they were, but they were powerful. She knew how," said Mrs. Gereth.!

"An immense little fib?" Fleda felt weak; she was glad of the support of her seat. CHAPTER VI

"Isn't it there, when he's in town, that he has a room? He has at present no other London address," Fleda said: "it's there one writes to him." "Did he tell you so?" Fleda asked. This was more peremptory than any word her friend, though often speaking in her presence with much point, had ever yet directly addressed to her. It affected her like the crack of a whip, but she confined herself, with an effort, to taking it as a reminder that she must keep her head. "I know he has his engagement to carry out."