ht, but we haven't told anyone yet! Isn't
it lovely? We just slipped out here for a little quiet talk."

"I am so glad. I hope you will be very happy," Halcyone said, and tried
not to let the contrast of Cora's joyous prospect make her wince.

"I am always happy," Cora returned, "and it's dear of you to wish me
nice things."

Halcyone attracted her immensely, her quite remarkable personal
distinction was full of charm, and, now in fresh and pretty modern
clothes, to Cora's eyes she looked almost beautiful; but why so very
pale and quiet, she wondered; and then, with a flash, she remembered the
news she too had read in the paper that morning. Perhaps Halcyone minded
very much. She decided rapidly what to do. If she did not mention it at
all, she reasoned, this finely strung girl would know that she guessed
it would be painful to her--and that might hurt her pride. It was kinder
to plunge in and get it over.

"Isn't it wonderful about Mr. Derringham and Cecilia Cricklander?" she
said, pretending to be busy untangling her parasol tassel. "She always
intended to marry him--and she is so rich I expect he felt that would be
a good thing. Freynie says he is very much harder up then anyone knows."

Her kind, common sense told her that a man's doing even a low thing for
expediency would hurt a woman who loved him, less than that the motive
for his action should have been one of inclination.

Halcyone came up to the scratch, although a fierce pain tightened her
heart afresh.

"Yes," she said, "I suppose no one was surprised to read of the
engagement in the papers to-day. I can imagine that a man requires a
great deal of money to support the position in the government which Mr.
Derringham has, and no doubt Mrs. Cricklander is glad to give it to
him--he is so clever and great." And not a muscle of her face quivered
as she spoke.

"If it does hurt--my goodness! she is game!" Cora thought, and aloud she
went on, "Cecilia isn't a bad sort--a shocking snob, as all of us are
who are not the real thing and want to be--like your own common pushers
over here. We used to laugh at her awfully when she first came from
Pittsburgh and tried to cut in before she married my cousin. Poor old
Vin! He was crazy about her." Then she went on reflectively, as Halcyone
did not answer. "We often think you English people are so odd--the way
you can't distinguish between us! You receive, with open arms, the most
impossible people if they are rich,