suddenness of her departure, until she was accosted by Mrs.
McSeeney. Her eyes beamed so triumphantly that Florence felt an
instinctive dread of an encounter with a woman whom she knew to be
Marion's enemy. Mrs. McSeeney spoke with a suavity which Florence felt
to be entirely feigned, and she was at a loss to account for this sudden
pleasantness of manner.

"I have just heard, my dear," said Mrs. McSeeney, "that you are going
away, and I can't tell you how deeply we shall all miss you. What
induced you to leave so suddenly?"

"I am called home because my father says he must have me there,"
Florence replied, thinking it the easiest excuse to make. "I am the only
child, and he gets extremely lonesome when I am long away."

"You forget that while he is but one person, there are many others here.
You are inconsiderate of the claims of the majority," said Mrs.
McSeeney. "However, you may carry away the satisfaction that you looked
absolutely heavenly at the ball last night in that charming yellow gown.
How like it is to Marion's, was that intentional?"

"That is the second time I have been asked that question, but I assure
you it was quite an unexpected coincidence."

"A coincidence which created a fortunate contrast," replied Mrs.
McSeeney, with increased suavity. "Fortunate for you, at least."

"What does this extreme agreeableness mean?" Florence wondered, and for
a moment she was lost for a reply. "By the way," continued Mrs.
McSeeney, "what has become of that charming Mr. Grahame whom Marion
brought to my house last week? I don't see him here."

"He went back to New York to-day," answered Florence somewhat coolly,
as she wished to end the conversation.

"What a pity!" said Mrs. McSeeney, speaking in a louder tone. "Mr.
Grahame was such a delightful man, and dear Marion Sanderson must miss
him so."

Instinctively feeling that some one else might have overheard this
remark, Florence looked hurriedly behind her, and was horrified to see
Roswell Sanderson and Harold Wainwright standing there. She saw the
meaning of Mrs. McSeeney's action now; she had laid this trap to injure
Marion in the eyes of her husband, and Roswell's expression of mingled
anger and anxiety told her plainly that he had overheard. Frightened for
Marion's happiness she turned to Mrs. McSeeney and said angrily: "You
have no right to connect Marion's name with Mr. Grahame's in such a
manner."

"Indeed!" Mrs. McSeeney replied with exasperating