ing I'd have to talk to them all. I wanted to see Mrs. Rennie.
Nothing has been talked of in Riverton for the last fortnight but Mrs.
Rennie. I've heard of her beauty and charm and costumes until I'm sick
of the subject. Today I spoke to Sidney about her. Before I thought I
said right out, "Mrs. Rennie is to dine with us tonight."

"Yes?" he said in a quiet voice.

"I'm dying to see her," I went on recklessly. "I've heard so much
about her. They say she's so beautiful and fascinating. _Is_ she?
_You_ ought to know."

Sidney swung the sled around and put it in position for another coast.

"Yes, I know her," he admitted tranquilly. "She is a very handsome
woman, and I suppose most people would consider her fascinating. Come,
Nic, get on the sled. We have just time for one more coast, and then
you must go in."

"You were once a good friend ... a very good friend ... of Mrs.
Rennie's, weren't you, Sid?" I said.

A little mocking gleam crept into his eyes, and I instantly realized
that he was looking upon me as a rather impertinent child.

"You've been listening to gossip, Nic," he said. "It's a bad habit,
child. Don't let it grow on you. Come."

I went, feeling crushed and furious and ashamed.

I knew her at once when I went down to the drawing-room. There were
three other strange women there, but I knew she was the only one who
could be Mrs. Rennie. I felt such a horrible queer sinking feeling at
my heart when I saw her. Oh, she was beautiful ... I had never seen
anyone so beautiful. And Sidney was standing beside her, talking to
her, with a smile on his face, but none in his eyes ... I noticed
_that_ at a glance.

She was so tall and slender and willowy. Her dress was wonderful, and
her bare throat and shoulders were like pearls. Her hair was pale,
pale gold, and her eyes long-lashed and sweet, and her mouth like a
scarlet blossom against her creamy face. I thought of how I must look
beside her ... an awkward little girl in a short skirt with my hair in
a braid and too many hands and feet, and I would have given anything
then to be tall and grown-up and graceful.

I watched her all the evening and the queer feeling in me somewhere
grew worse and worse. I couldn't eat anything. Sidney took Mrs. Rennie
in; they sat opposite to me and talked all the time.

I was so glad when the dinner was over and everybody gone. The first
thing I did when I escaped to my room was to go to the glass and look
myself over just