had become quite unbearable!"

Three or four of the ladies were gathered round her while she rattled
on about her holdiday at the seaside. Helene found it necessary to
rise and join the group.

"We spent a month at Dinard," said Madame de Chermette. "Such a
delightful place, and such charming society!"

"Behind our chalet was a garden, and we had a terrace overlooking the
sea," went on Madame Deberle. "As you know, I decided on taking my
landau and coachman with me. It was very much handier when I wanted a
drive. Then Madame Levasseur came to see us--"

"Yes, one Sunday," interrupted that lady. "We were at Cabourg. Your
establishment was perfect, but a little too dear, I think."

"By the way," broke in Madame Berthier, addressing Juliette, "didn't
Monsieur Malignon give you lessons in swimming?"

Helene noticed a shadow of vexation, of sudden annoyance, pass over
Madame Deberle's face. Several times already she had fancied that, on
Malignon's name being brought unexpectedly into the conversation,
Madame Deberle suddenly seemed perturbed. However, the young woman
immediately regained her equanimity.

"A fine swimmer, indeed!" she exclaimed. "The idea of him ever giving
lessons to any one! For my part, I have a mortal fear of cold water
--the very sight of people bathing curdles my blood."

She gave an eloquent shiver, with a shrug of her plump shoulders, as
though she were a duck shaking water from her back.

"Then it's a fable?" questioned Madame de Guiraud.

"Of course; and one, I presume, of his own invention. He detests me
since he spent a month with us down there."

People were now beginning to pour in. The ladies, with clusters of
flowers in their hair, and round, plump arms, entered smiling and
nodding; while the men, each in evening dress and hat in hand, bowed
and ventured on some commonplace remark. Madame Deberle, never ceasing
her chatter for a moment, extended the tips of her fingers to the
friends of the house, many of whom said nothing, but passed on with a
bow. However, Mademoiselle Aurelie had just appeared on the scene, and
at once went into raptures over Juliette's dress, which was of
dark-blue velvet, trimmed with faille silk. At this all the ladies
standing round seemed to catch their first glimpse of the dress, and
declared it was exquisite, truly exquisite. It came, they learned,
from Worth's, and they discussed it for five minutes. The guests who
had drunk their coffee had placed thei