"Even the Maltese cross. Why not that as well as everything else?—especially as I remembered how you like it." "I don't give it up—I never did," Fleda returned.!

"Does Mona?" "We've already talked a long time," smiled Fleda.

"To give them up?" Fleda hesitated again. "I don't know," said Owen. "I thought I might hear this morning." Mrs. Brigstock looked at Owen and considered: nothing showed in her face but that it turned a deeper pink. "I should like him to go with me." There was no menace in her tone, but she evidently knew what she wanted. As Owen made no response to this Fleda glanced at him to invite him to assent; then, for fear that he wouldn't, and would thereby make his case worse, she took upon herself to declare that she was sure he would be very glad to meet such a wish. She had no sooner spoken than she felt that the words had a bad effect of intimacy: she had answered for him as if she had been his wife. Mrs. Brigstock continued to regard him as if she had observed nothing, and she continued to address Fleda: "I've not seen him for a long time—I've particular things to say to him."