reat effort over
herself, and suddenly put on the air that she used most to affect--the
air of a woman of the world, with peculiarly engaging manners.

"Don't hurry away," she said. "I really have something particular to say
to you. Will you listen to me for two minutes?"

"Yes--if you wish it."

"I do wish it very much. You will stay? That is kind of you. And I will
ring for tea."

"No, please do not," said Lady Alice shrinking instinctively from the
thought of eating and drinking in Rosalind Romaine's drawing-room; "I
really cannot stay long, and I do not drink tea so early."

Her hostess smiled and withdrew her hand from the bell-handle. "As you
please," she said indifferently. "It is so long since I had visitors
that I almost forget how to entertain them. You must excuse me if I have
seemed _distrait_ or--or peculiar. You see I have had a great deal to
bear."

"I know it, and I am very sorry," said Lady Alice gently.

"You are very kind." Was there a touch of satire in the tone? "And--as
you are here--why should we not speak of one or two matters that have
troubled us sometimes? As two women of the world, we ought to be able to
come to a sort of compact."

"I do not understand you, Mrs. Romaine."

Rosalind laughed a little wildly. "Of course you don't. But I do not
mean to talk conventionalism or commonplace. Just for a minute or two,
let us speak openly. You have come back to your husband--yes, I _will_
speak, and you shall not interrupt!--and you hope no doubt to be happy
with him. Don't you know that I could wreck your whole happiness if I
chose?"

The color rose in Lady Alice's face, but she looked clearly into the
other's face as she replied--

"My happiness with my husband is not dependent on anything that you may
do or say. I really cannot discuss the subject with you, Mrs. Romaine,
it is most unsuitable."

"You are very impatient," said Rosalind satirically. "I only want to
make a bargain with you. If you will do something that I want, I promise
you that I will go away from London and never speak to any of your
family again." Lady Alice's alarm struggled for mastery with her pride
and her sense of the becoming, both of which told her not to parley with
this woman. But the temptation to a naturally exacting nature was very
great. She hesitated for a moment, and Mrs. Romaine went rapidly on.

"I wrote a letter once." The hot color mounted to her cheeks and brow
while she was speaking. "You wro