loved, and so I can't forgive him or his kind. You and I have
both known lots of men of the kind, have found them agreeable and
well-bred and all the rest of it; and, without doubt, many of them
settle down and become model husbands and model fathers. But I am
sorry--I am sorry. If only Daisy had cared for Willie Carton! And she
does not love this man, you say?"

"He attracts and interests her; she finds great pleasure in his
company; she wants to marry him. I am not what you would call a
worldly woman, Jeannie, but I think she is wise. It is an excellent
match, and in spite of what you say about so-called 'good fellows,' he
is a good fellow."

Jeannie's face had grown suddenly rather white and tired. She felt as if
Nemesis were slowly turning round in her direction again. She sat down
by her dressing-table and drummed her fingers on it.

"Yes, no doubt I judge harshly," she repeated, "and no doubt, also,
there is a particular fear in my brain, quite fantastic probably and
quite without foundation. I have a 'good fellow' in my mind whose--whose
'good-fellow proceedings' touched me very acutely. I want, therefore, to
know the name of this man. I can't help it; if Daisy wants it to be a
surprise for me, she must be disappointed. You see what my fear is, that
the two are the same. So tell me his name, Alice."

There was something so desperately serious in her tone that Lady
Nottingham did not think of reassuring her out of her fears, but
answered at once.

"Lord Lindfield," she said.

The drumming of Jeannie's fingers on the table ceased. She sat quite
still, looking out in front of her.

"Lord Lindfield?" she asked. "Tom Lindfield?"

"Yes."

Jeannie got up.

"Then thank Heaven she doesn't love him," she said. "It is quite
impossible that she should marry him. Since you began to tell me about
this man I was afraid it was Tom Lindfield, hoping, hoping desperately,
that it was not. She can never marry him, never--never! What are we to
do? What are we to do?"

"There is some reason behind this, then, that I don't know?" asked
Alice.

"Of course there is. I must tell you, I suppose. We must put our heads
together and plan and plan. Oh, Alice, I hoped so much for peace and
happiness, but it can't be yet, not until we have settled this."

"But what is it? What is it?" asked Lady Nottingham.

A hansom jingled round the corner and stopped just below at the
front door.

"The girls are back," said Jeannie. "Dais