"You never in your life took her word for any other matter." "For me?" Fleda stared. "Before he has even married her?"!

"Well, was it I, pray, who perpetrated the wrong? Ain't I doing what I can to get the thing arranged?" "Owen—what I've done? I haven't the least idea," said Mrs. Gereth.

This appeal had evidently a certain effect; Mrs. Brigstock visibly wavered. "I can't talk with him whenever I like," she returned; "he hasn't been near us since I don't know when. But there are things that have brought me here." "By letting myself go?" She spoke mechanically, still more like an idiot, and felt as if her face flamed out the insincerity of her question. It was vividly back again, the vision of the real way to act upon Mrs. Gereth. This lady's movements were now rapid; she turned off from her as quickly as she had seized her, and Fleda sat down to steady herself for full responsibility. "And do you mean, as it is, that she'll prevent him?" Mona Brigstock, between these ladies, was now nothing but "she."