rofoundly mystified. Christina beckoned to her poodle, and the
dog marched stiffly across to her. She gave a loving twist to his
rose-colored top-knot, and bade him go and fetch her burnous. He obeyed,
gathered it up in his teeth, and returned with great solemnity, dragging
it along the floor.

"I do her justice. I do her full justice," she went on, with soft
earnestness. "I like to say that, I like to be able to say it. She 's
full of intelligence and courage and devotion. She does n't do me a
grain of justice; but that is no harm. There is something so fine in the
aversions of a good woman!"

"If you would give Miss Garland a chance," said Rowland, "I am sure she
would be glad to be your friend."

"What do you mean by a chance? She has only to take it. I told her
I liked her immensely, and she frowned as if I had said something
disgusting. She looks very handsome when she frowns." Christina rose,
with these words, and began to gather her mantle about her. "I don't
often like women," she went on. "In fact I generally detest them. But
I should like to know Miss Garland well. I should like to have a
friendship with her; I have never had one; they must be very delightful.
But I shan't have one now, either--not if she can help it! Ask her what
she thinks of me; see what she will say. I don't want to know; keep it
to yourself. It 's too sad. So we go through life. It 's fatality--that
's what they call it, is n't it? We please the people we don't care for,
we displease those we do! But I appreciate her, I do her justice; that
's the more important thing. It 's because I have imagination. She has
none. Never mind; it 's her only fault. I do her justice; I understand
very well." She kept softly murmuring and looking about for Madame
Grandoni. She saw the good lady near the door, and put out her hand to
Rowland for good night. She held his hand an instant, fixing him with
her eyes, the living splendor of which, at this moment, was something
transcendent. "Yes, I do her justice," she repeated. "And you do her
more; you would lay down your life for her." With this she turned away,
and before he could answer, she left him. She went to Madame Grandoni,
grasped her two hands, and held out her forehead to be kissed. The next
moment she was gone.

"That was a happy accident!" said Madame Grandoni. "She never looked so
beautiful, and she made my little party brilliant."

"Beautiful, verily!" Rowland answered. "But it was no accid