to come to Queen's Road on Saturday afternoon. Virginia
quickly replied with a promise to call, and punctually kept the
engagement. Though she was much better dressed than in the days
previous to Monica's marriage, she had lost something for which costume
could not compensate: her face had no longer that unmistakable
refinement which had been wont to make her attire a secondary
consideration. A disagreeable redness tinged her eyelids and the lower
part of her nose; her mouth was growing coarse and lax, the under-lip
hanging a little; she smiled with a shrinking, apologetic shyness only
seen in people who have done something to be ashamed of--smiled even
when she was endeavouring to look sorrowful; and her glance was
furtive. She sat down on the edge of a chair, like an anxious applicant
for work or charity, and a moistness of the eyes, which obliged her to
use her handkerchief frequently, strengthened this resemblance.

Rhoda could not play at smooth phrases with this poor, dispirited
woman, whose change during the last few years, and especially during
the last twelve months, had often occupied her thoughts in a very
unpleasant way. She came almost at once to the subject of their
interview.

'Why have you not been to see me before this?'

'I--really couldn't. The circumstances--everything is so very painful.
You know--of course you know what has happened?'

'Of course I do.'

'How,' asked Virginia timidly, 'did the news first of all reach you?'

'Mr. Widdowson came here and told Miss Barfoot everything.'

'He came? We didn't know that. Then you have heard the accusation he
makes?'

'Everything.'

'It is quite unfounded, I do assure you. Monica is not guilty. The poor
child has done nothing--it was an indiscretion--nothing more than
indiscretion--'

'I am very anxious to believe it. Can you give me certainty? Can you
explain Monica's behaviour--not only on that one occasion, but the
deceit she practised at other times? Her husband told Miss Barfoot that
she had frequently told him untruths--such as saying that she called
here when she certainly did not.'

'I can't explain that,' lamented Virginia. 'Monica won't tell me why
she concealed her movements.'

'Then how can you ask me to believe your assurance that she isn't
guilty?'

The sternness of this question caused Virginia to redden and become
utterly disconcerted. She dropped her handkerchief, fumbled for it,
breathed hard.

'Oh, Miss Nunn! How can