came
out as she stood there hesitating, and she called to him softly to know
where was Mistress Atherton.

"She is in the parlour, Mistress Margaret," said the man.

The girl went slowly across to the corner doorway, glancing at the
parlour windows as she passed; but the curtains were drawn on this side,
and she could catch no glimpse of the party within.

The little entrance passage was dark; but she could hear a murmur of
voices as she stood there, still hesitating. Then she opened the door
suddenly, and went into the room.

Her mother was speaking; and the girl heard those icy detached tones as
she looked round the group.

"It must be very difficult for you, Mistress Atherton, in these days."

Margaret saw her father standing at the window-seat, and Chris beside
him; and in a moment saw that the faces of both were troubled and
uneasy.

A tall girl was in the chair opposite, her hands lying easily on the
arms and her head thrown back almost negligently. She was well dressed,
with furs about her throat; her buckled feet were crossed before the
blaze, and her fingers shone with jewels. Her face was pale; her
scarlet lips were smiling, and there was a certain keen and genial
amusement in her black eyes.

She looked magnificent, thought Margaret, still standing with her hand
on the door--too magnificent.

Her father made a movement, it seemed of relief, as his daughter came
in; but Lady Torridon, very upright in her chair on this side, went on
immediately.

--"With your opinions, Mistress Atherton, I mean. I suppose all that you
consider sacred is being insulted, in your eyes."

The tall girl glanced at Margaret with the amusement still in her face,
and then answered with a deliberate incisiveness that equalled Lady
Torridon's own.

"Not so difficult," she said, "as for those who have no opinions."

There was a momentary pause; and then she added, as she stood up and Sir
James came forward.

"I am very sorry for them, Mistress Torridon."

Before Lady Torridon could answer, Sir James had broken in.

"This is my daughter Margaret, Mistress Atherton."

The two ladies saluted one another.

CHAPTER II

A DUEL

Margaret watched Beatrice with growing excitement that evening, in which
was mingled something of awe and some thing of attraction. She had never
seen anyone so serenely self-possessed.

It became evident during supper, beyond the possibility of mistake, that
Lady Torridon had planned