nding tones.

"I thought we should meet again," said the younger woman, addressing
Henry.

"Miss Loriner," he said to Gertie, with signs of reluctance. "A friend
of my sister-in-law."

"I am Lady Douglass's companion," remarked Miss Loriner.

"She seems ratty about something," said Gertie.

"She has what they call the critical faculty," mentioned the other,
with a twinkle of the eye. "I happen to be aware of the fact."

Lady Douglass was looking around with the air of one searching for
fresh subjects; Henry led Gertie to her, and made the introductions.
Lady Douglass expressed the view that the Gardens were horribly tiring,
regretted her ill-luck in visiting on a crowded afternoon. "But no
misfortune," she added wearily, "seems to escape me!"

It was not until they descended the steps that the group had an
opportunity for forming itself. Miss Loriner, recognizing the girl's
perturbation of mind, took her ahead, thus foiling the intentions of
Lady Douglass; they could hear her talking of literature to Clarence
Mills in a patronizing way. Gertie's cousin said resolutely, "But
George Meredith never wrote a poem with that title. You are thinking
of Owen Meredith." Lady Douglass answered, with pride, that she never
troubled to remember the names of authors.

"Clarence is standing up to her," remarked Gertie.

"She gets so little contradiction," said Miss Loriner, "that it will
have all the charm of novelty. I daren't do it, of course."

"You're thinking of your bread and butter."

"That's about all I should have to eat if I lost this berth."

"Wouldn't care for the job myself."

"I can't do anything else," explained Miss Loriner. "Did you say your
cousin was a journalist? I wish I could do something like that. I
want to write a novel, badly."

"That's probably how you would write it. Why, even Clarence is finding
some trouble over the job. And he's got a brain."

"I suppose that is an advantage," admitted the other serenely. "How
long have you known Mr. Douglass?"

"Her husband must get precious tired of the sound of her voice."

"He does. He goes away a good deal. The war in South Africa was a
Godsend to him. Just now he is out somewhere--I forget where. How
long have you--"

"Any youngsters?"

"There are no children."

Gertie glanced back at Lady Douglass in a more friendly way. Clarence
had been dropped owing, apparently, to want of sympathy, and Trew was
selected as one more l