been a friend of
mine, and I don't want ever to see you again!"

Caroline Smith was horrified. "Well, upon my word. Isn't that
gratitude? Here am I, the only person in this whole place would take
any trouble with you! When the others all said that you were plain and
stupid and hadn't anything to say for yourself I stuck to you. I did
all I could, wasting all my time going to the dressmaker with you and
trying to make you look like something human, and this is the way you
repay me! Well, there's a lesson for me! Many's the time mother's said
to me, 'Carry, you'll just ruin yourself with that kind heart of yours,
laying yourself out for others when you ought to be seeing after
yourself. You've got too big a heart for this world.' Doesn't it just
show one? And to end it all with accusing me of reading your letters!
If you choose to sit in the park after dark with a man who everybody
knows--"

"Either you're going to leave this room or I am," said Maggie.

"Thank you!" said Caroline, tossing her head. "I haven't the slightest
desire to stay, I assure you! Only you'll be sorry for this, Maggie
Cardinal, you will indeed!"

With a swish of the skirts and a violent banging of the door she was
gone.

"The only friend I had," thought Maggie.

The next development was an announcement from Aunt Anne that she would
like Maggie to accompany her to a meeting at Miss Avies'. Aunt Anne did
not explain what kind of a meeting it would be, and Maggie asked no
questions. She simply replied that she would go. She had indeed by this
time a very considerable curiosity of her own as to what every one
thought was going to happen in ten days' time. Perhaps this meeting
would enlighten her. It did.

On arriving at Miss Avies' gaunt and menacing apartment she found
herself in the very stronghold of the Inside Saints. It was a strange
affair, and Maggie was never to see anything quite like it again. In
the first place, Miss Avies' room was not exactly the place in which
you would have expected to discover a meeting of this kind.

She lived over a house-agent's in John Street, Adelphi. Her
sitting-room was low-ceilinged with little diamond-paned windows. The
place was let furnished, and the green and red vases on the
mantelpiece, the brass clock and the bright yellow wallpaper were
properties of the landlord. To the atmosphere of the place Miss Avies,
although she lived there for a number of years, had contributed nothing.

It had all th