"It wasn't with me you were in love, my duck." Then Mrs. Gereth added: "I'll go and tell him." "She knows how awfully kind you've been to me," Owen said. He showed such discomfiture that he really gave away their situation; and Fleda found herself divided between the hope that he would take leave and the wish that he should see the whole of what the occasion might enable her to bring to pass for him.!

Fleda hesitated. "Has he informed you, dear Mrs. Gereth?" "What do you call meeting a fellow?" Fleda asked, with a smile.

Fleda by this time desired immensely to keep his companion, but she saw she could do so only at the cost of provoking on his part a further exhibition of the sheltering attitude, which he exaggerated precisely because it was the first thing, since he had begun to "like" her, that he had been able frankly to do for her. It was not in her interest that Mrs. Brigstock should be more struck than she already was with that benevolence. "There may be things you know that I don't," she presently said to her, with a smile. "But I've a sort of sense that you're laboring under some great mistake." "An immense little fib?" Fleda felt weak; she was glad of the support of her seat. Mrs. Gereth took her up with a cold smile that seemed the warning of experience against hyperbole. "As long as what, please?"