"She wanted to know what right you had to meddle. She said you were not honest." "I don't want to see any letter," said Fleda. "You'll miss your train."!

"Go on—I can bear it now," said Mrs. Gereth. Her companion had just perceptibly paused. "You really pretend," Fleda asked, "to think me capable of transmitting him that news?"

Rather musingly and absently Fleda shook her head. "I don't mind anything." Her visitor turned sharp round. "You can?" There was a light in his strong stare. "You can understand it's spoiling her temper and making her come down on me? She behaves as if I were of no use to her at all!" It was part of the great rupture and an effect of Mrs. Gereth's character that up to this moment she had been completely and haughtily indifferent to that detail. Now, however, she had a visible reason for being clear about it. She bethought herself and she broke out—"Isn't the day past?" Then, stopping short, she added: "Upon my word, they must have put it off!" As Fleda made no answer to this she sharply went on: "Have they put it off?"