--neuralgia, I think. I have the remedy in my room. Don't keep me,
my dear. Mrs. Gallilee mustn't find me here again."

The paroxysm of pain which Carmina had noticed, passed over her face
once more. She subdued it, and left the room. The pain mastered her
again; a low cry broke from her when she closed the door. Carmina ran
out: "Frances! what is it?" Frances looked over her shoulder, while she
slowly ascended the stairs. "Never mind!" she said gently. "I have got
my remedy."

Carmina advanced a step to follow her, and drew back.

Was that expression of suffering really caused by pain of the body? or
was it attributable to anything that she had rashly said? She tried to
recall what had passed between Frances and herself. The effort wearied
her. Her thoughts turned self-reproachfully to Ovid. If _he_ had been
speaking to a friend whose secret sorrow was known to him, would he have
mentioned the name of the woman whom they both loved? She looked at his
portrait, and reviled herself as a selfish insensible wretch. "Will Ovid
improve me?" she wondered. "Shall I be a little worthier of him, when I
am his wife?"

Luncheon time came; and Mrs. Gallilee sent word that they were not to
wait for her.

"She's studying," said Mr. Gallilee, with awe-struck looks. "She's going
to make a speech at the Discussion to-morrow. The man who gives the
lecture is the man she's going to pitch into. I don't know him; but how
do you feel about it yourself, Carmina?--I wouldn't stand in his shoes
for any sum of money you could offer me. Poor devil! I beg your pardon,
my dear; let me give you a wing of the fowl. Boiled fowl--eh? and
tongue--ha? Do you know the story of the foreigner? He dined out fifteen
times with his English friends. And there was boiled fowl and tongue at
every dinner. The fifteenth time, the foreigner couldn't stand it any
longer. He slapped his forehead, and he said, 'Ah, merciful Heaven, cock
and bacon again!' You won't mention it, will you?--and perhaps you think
as I do?--I'm sick of cock and bacon, myself."

Mr. Null's medical orders still prescribed fresh air. The carriage
came to the door at the regular hour; and Mr. Gallilee, with equal
regularity, withdrew to his club.

Carmina was too uneasy to leave the house, without seeing Miss Minerva
first. She went up to the schoolroom.

There was no sound of voices, when she opened the door. Miss Minerva was
writing, and silence had been proclaimed. The girls were rea