e.

"Margaret!" cried Kitty, starting up in dismay--"say I'm not at home."

Too late! Their smiling Italian housemaid threw the door open, with the
air of one bringing good-fortune. And behind her appeared a tall lady,
and an old gentleman hat in hand.

"May we come in, Kitty?" said Mary Lyster, advancing. "Cousin Elizabeth
told us you were here."

Kitty had sprung up. The disorder of her fair hair, her white cheeks,
and the ghostly thinness of her small, black-robed form drew the curious
eyes of Sir Richard. And the oddness of her manner as she greeted them
only confirmed the old man's prejudice against her.

However, greeted they were, in some sort of fashion; and Miss French
gave them tea. She kept Sir Richard entertained, while Kitty and Mary
conversed. They talked perfunctorily of ordinary topics--Venice, its
sights, its hotels, and the people staying in them--of Lady Tranmore and
various Ashe relations. Meanwhile the inmost thought of each was busy
with the other.

Kitty studied the lines of Mary's face and the fashion of her dress.

"She looks much older. And she's not enjoying her life a bit. That's my
fault. I spoiled all her chances with Geoffrey--and she knows it. She
<i>hates</i> me. Quite right, too."

"Oh, you mean that nonsensical thing last night?" Sir Richard was saying
to Margaret French. "Oh no, I didn't go. But Mary, of course, thought
she must go. Somebody invited her."

Kitty started.

"You were at the serenata?" she said to Mary.

"Yes, I went with a party from the hotel."

Kitty looked at her. A sudden flush had touched her pale cheeks, and she
could not conceal the trembling of her hands.

"That was marvellous, that light on the Salute, wasn't it?"

"Wonderful!--and on the water, too. I saw two or three people I
knew--just caught their faces for a second."

"Did you?" said Kitty. And thoughts ran fast through her head. "Did she
see Geoffrey?--and does she mean me to understand that she did? How she
detests me! If she did see him, of course she supposes that I know all
about it, and that he's here for me. Why don't I ask her, straight out,
whether she saw him, and make her understand that I don't care
twopence?--that she's welcome to him--as far as I'm concerned?"

But some hidden feeling tied her tongue. Mary continued to talk about
the serenata, and Kitty was presently conscious that her every word and
gesture in reply was closely watched. "Yes, yes, she saw him. Perhaps
she