Fred understands the difference."

"Of course he does. Some people are always thinking evil."

"I was thinking of Mr. Stanhope's rights."

"Thank you, Ethel; but I can take care of Mr. Stanhope's rights without
your assistance. If you had said you were thinking of Ethel Rawdon's
rights you would have been nearer the truth."

"Dora, I will not listen----"

"Oh, you shall listen to me! I know that you expected Fred to fall in
love with you, but if he did not like to do so, am I to blame?" Ethel
was resuming her coat at this point in the conversation, and Dora
understood the proud silence with which the act was being accomplished.
Then a score of good reasons for preventing such a definite quarrel
flashed through her selfish little mind, and she threw her arms around
Ethel and begged a thousand pardons for her rudeness. And Ethel had
also reasons for avoiding dissension at this time. A break in their
friendship now would bring Dora forward to explain, and Dora had a
wonderful cleverness in presenting her own side of any question. Ethel
shrunk from her innuendoes concerning Fred, and she knew that Basil
would be made to consider her a meddling, jealous girl who willingly saw
evil in Dora's guileless enjoyment of a clever man's company.

To be misunderstood, to be blamed and pitied, to be made a pedestal
for Dora's superiority, was a situation not to be contemplated. It was
better to look over Dora's rudeness in the flush of Dora's pretended
sorrow for it. So they forgave each other, or said they did, and
then Dora explained herself. She declared that she had not the least
intention of any wrong. "You see, Ethel, what a fool the man is about
me. Somebody says we ought to treat a fool according to his folly. That
is all I was doing. I am sure Basil is so far above Fred Mostyn that I
could never put them in comparison--and Basil knows it. He trusts me."

"Very well, Dora. If Basil knows it, and trusts you, I have no more to
say. I am now sorry I named the subject."

"Never mind, we will forget that it was named. The fact is, Ethel, I
want all the fun I can get now. When I am Basil's wife I shall have to
be very sedate, and of course not even pretend to know if any other man
admires me. Little lunches with Fred, theater and opera parties, and
even dances will be over for me. Oh, dear, how much I am giving up for
Basil! And sometimes I think he never realizes how dreadful it must be
for me."

"You will have your lover