hand she carried a pair of new fur
mittens which she had just taken off. Sproatly, who glanced at them,
noticed that Winifred did the same. Then Mrs. Hastings spoke.

"I don't think you have met Miss Ismay, Sally," she said.

Sally merely acknowledged that she had not been introduced, and Sproatly
became more sure that the situation was an interesting one, when Mrs.
Hastings formally presented her. It was clear to him that Agatha was
somewhat puzzled by Sally's attitude.

As a matter of fact, Agatha, who said that she must have had a cold
drive, was regarding the new arrival with a curiosity that she had not
expected to feel when the girl first came in. Miss Creighton, she
admitted, was comely, though she was clearly somewhat primitive and
crude. The long skin coat she wore hid her figure, but her pose was too
virile; and there was a look which mystified Agatha in her eyes. It was
almost openly hostile, and there was a suggestion of triumph in it.
Agatha, who could find no possible reason for this, resented it.

Sally had remained standing, and, as she said nothing further, there was
an awkward silence. She was the dominant figure in the room, and the
others became sensible of a slight constraint and embarrassment as she
gazed at Agatha with unwavering eyes. In fact, it was rather a relief to
them when at last she turned to Mrs. Hastings.

"I can't stop. It wouldn't do to leave the team in this frost," said
she.

This was so evident that they let her go, and Mrs. Hastings, who went
with her to the door, afterwards sat down beside Sproatly a little apart
from the rest.

"I've no doubt you noticed those mittens," she commented softly.

"I did," Sproatly admitted. "I think you can rely upon my discretion. If
you hadn't wanted this assurance I don't suppose you'd have said
anything upon the subject. It, however, seems very probable that
Winifred noticed them, too."

"Does that mean you're not sure that Winifred's discretion is equal to
your own?"

Sproatly's eyes twinkled. "In this particular case the trouble is that
she's animated by a sincere attachment to Miss Ismay, and has, I
understand, a rather poor opinion of Gregory. Of course, I don't know
how far your views on that point coincide with hers."

"Do you expect me to explain them to you?"

"No," answered Sproatly, "I'm only anxious to keep out of the thing.
Gregory is a friend of mine, and, after all, he has his strong points. I
should, however, like