ve.'

Violet coloured and shrank closer to her husband. Theodora's face and
neck turned almost crimson, and her eyes sparkled, but her voice only
showed unmoved disdain. 'Remember, she is my FRIEND.'

'You do not know her history, or you would not call her so.'

'I do. What is there to be ashamed of?'

'I see, you know nothing of the prior attachment,' said Percy, not
without anger at her pertinacity.

'A boy and girl liking that had been long past.'

'O it had, had it?' said Percy, ironically. 'So you approve her marrying
an old rogue and miser, who had heaped up his hoards by extortion of
wretched Indians and Spaniards, the very scum of Mammon, coming to the
top like everything detestable?'

'I never heard his money was ill-gotten.'

'Those who spend don't ask whence gold comes. And you justify her
keeping the old love, this cousin, dangling about her house all the
winter till she is the talk of Paris!'

'I don't believe gossip.'

'Can you deny that he is in London in her train?'

'He has come into some property, and means to turn over a new leaf.'

'Ay, and a worse leaf than before.'

'How can you judge of his resolutions?'

Arthur laughed, saying, 'I'd not bet much on Mark Gardner's.'

Much to Violet's relief, the carriage was announced; the gentlemen
walked, and Theodora talked of indifferent matters fast and gaily. Percy
handed Mrs. Martindale out, and gave her his arm, leaving Theodora to
her brother.

It was a small select party, almost every one known to Theodora; and
she was soon in eager conversation at some distance from Violet, who was
sorry for Percy, as he stood in silence beside her own chair, vexation
apparent on his honest face.

'Who is that talking to Theodora?' he presently asked. It was a small
light-complexioned gentleman, whose head and face, and the whole style
of his dress and person, might have made him appear a boy of seventeen,
but for a pale moustache and tuft on the chin. Theodora looked very
animated, and his face was glowing with the pleasure of her notice.

'I cannot tell,' said Violet; 'there is Arthur, ask him.'

Percy was moving towards Arthur, when he was caught by the master of the
house, and set to talk to the Oriental in his own language. Violet had
never been so impressed by his talents as while listening to his fluent
conversation in the foreign tongue, making the stranger look delighted
and amused, and giving the English audience lively interpretations,