wind was
pelting against them. She drew the shades deftly, lighted the gas, and
retired. Honora sank down in one of the upholstered light blue satin
chairs and gazed at the shining brass of the coal grate set in the
marble mantel, above which hung an engraving of Sir Joshua Reynolds'
cherubs. She had an instinct that the climax of the drama was at hand.

Mrs. Holt sat down in the chair opposite.

"My dear," she began, "I told you the other day what an unexpected and
welcome comfort and help you have been to me. You evidently inherit"
(Mrs. Holt coughed slightly) "the art of entertaining and pleasing, and
I need not warn you, my dear, against the dangers of such a gift. Your
aunt has evidently brought you up with strictness and religious care.
You have been very fortunate."

"Indeed I have, Mrs. Holt," echoed Honora, in bewilderment.

"And Susan," continued Mrs. Holt, "useful and willing as she is, does
not possess your gift of taking people off my hands and entertaining
them."

Honora could think of no reply to this. Her eyes--to which no one could
be indifferent--were riveted on the face of her hostess, and how was the
good lady to guess that her brain was reeling?

"I was about to say, my dear, that I expect to have a great deal
of--well, of rather difficult company this summer. Next week, for
instance, some prominent women in the Working Girls' Relief Society
are coming, and on July the twenty-third I give a garden party for the
delegates to the Charity Conference in New York. The Japanese Minister
has promised to pay me a visit, and Sir Rupert Grant, who built those
remarkable tuberculosis homes in England, you know, is arriving in
August with his family. Then there are some foreign artists."

"Oh, Mrs. Holt," exclaimed Honora; "how many interesting people you
see!"

"Exactly, my dear. And I thought that, in addition to the fact that I
have grown very fond of you, you would be very useful to me here, and
that a summer with me might not be without its advantages. As your aunt
will have you until you are married, which, I may say, without denying
your attractions, is likely to be for some time, I intend to write to
her to-night--with your consent--and ask her to allow you to remain with
me all summer."

Honora sat transfixed, staring painfully at the big pendant ear-rings.

"It is so kind of you, Mrs. Holt--" she faltered.

"I can realize, my dear, that you would wish to get back to your aunt.
The feelin