"I've seen him but twice," said Fleda. "Well," said Mrs. Gereth profoundly, "it will be clear enough that Mona has."!

"It didn't," Owen replied with candor. "She said our relation, yours and mine, isn't innocent." "I made a point of letting Mona know that I should be here, don't you see? That's exactly what I wrote her this morning."

"His engagement to marry? Why, it's just that engagement we loathe!" In the full face of what she was keeping back such a hope could only make her wince; but she was prompt with her explanations in proportion as she felt they failed to meet him. The smutty maid came in with tea-things, and Fleda, moving several objects, eagerly accepted the diversion of arranging a place for them on one of the tables. "I've been trying to break your mother down because it has seemed there may be some chance of it. That's why I've let you go on expecting it. She's too proud to veer round all at once, but I think I speak correctly in saying that I've made an impression." Fleda debated. "Are you so very sure she will?"