er back
to gold. The folds at the neck were caught together with a metal clasp
and chains, and slippers of the same colour peeped out beneath the
sweeping skirts. The first glance at her face, however, brought with it
a thrill of fear, for suffering and weariness were written there with an
eloquence beyond the power of words. The eyes were haggard and
encircled with violet shadows, the cheeks had lost their curves, the
lips drooped, yet, as ever, Jean's beauty rose triumphant over all
drawbacks. Vanna asked herself if she were not more beautiful than
ever, for the childlike pathos of expression added the needed touch of
softness to her features.

"Oh, Vanna, you blessing! You have come at last."

"I've come, darling. Come to stay! As long as you want me."

Jean kissed her again and again, the tears gathering in the lovely eyes,
but she dashed them away, and in another minute was laughing and
chattering in her old gay voice.

"Bring tea, bring tea! And I'm engaged, remember! Not a soul is to
disturb me this afternoon. Vanna, you look sweet. If you go on
improving at this rate, you'll soon beat me hollow. Sit here, opposite,
where I can see you. Oh, you look so fresh, and happy, and well! You
are like a breath of sea air. I've been stifling for months in this
stuffy room, with not even a tree to look at, to remind me that it's
spring." She threw an impatient glance at the stained-glass window
which had made such a deep hole in Robert's purse. "Robert goes out at
nine, and gets home at seven. Oh, my dear, such days! I've had such a
dose of my own society that I'm sickened. If there's a person on earth
I detest at this moment, it's Jean Gloucester."

Vanna smiled whimsically.

"It doesn't look like it. You seem to me to take a very fair amount of
interest in her still. You look as charming as ever, you wonderful
person. What a marvellous gown! Where in the name of mystery did you
evolve it? and how many coffers of gold did you squander in the
purchase?"

Jean had the grace to blush.

"Oh, well! one must be respectable. It _is_ rather a marvel. It was
designed for me by an artist woman who has gone in for gowns; but no
earthly inducement will ever make me tell what it cost. It's so
soothing to have something becoming that it's been as good as medicine.
Looked at in that way, it's _cheap_! And I have been so good about
money all the year. Rob balanced our books last week, and we were onl