older," said Lady Newhaven to herself, adding, aloud:

"Dear Rachel!"

"Every one has gone," said Rachel, "and I have had a telegram from Lady
Trentham. She has reached Paris, and will be here to-morrow afternoon."

"Dearest mamma!" said Lady Newhaven.

"So now," said Rachel, sitting down near the sofa with a set
countenance, "I shall feel quite happy about leaving you."

"Must you go?"

"I must. I have arranged to leave by the seven-thirty to-morrow morning.
I think it will be better if we say good-bye over night."

"I shall miss you dreadfully." Lady Newhaven perceived suddenly, and
with resentment, that Rachel was anxious to go.

"I do not think you will miss me."

"I don't know why you say that. You have been so dear and sympathetic.
You understand me much better than mamma. And then mamma was always so
fond of Edward. She cried for joy when I was engaged to him. She said
her only fear was that I should not appreciate him. She never could see
that he was in fault. I must say he was kind to her. I do wish I was not
obliged to have her now. I know she will do nothing but talk of him. Now
I come to think of it, do stay, Rachel."

"There is a reason why I can't stay, and why you won't wish me to stay
when I tell it you."

"Oh, Mr. Vernon! I saw you and him holding hands in the dusk. But I
don't mind if you marry him, Rachel. I believe he is a good sort of a
young man--not the kind I could ever have looked at; but what does that
matter? I am afraid it has rankled in your mind that I once warned you
against him. But, after all, it is your affair, not mine."

"I was not going to speak of Mr. Vernon."

Lady Newhaven sighed impatiently. She did not want to talk of Rachel's
affairs. She wanted, now the funeral was over, to talk of her own. She
often said there were few people with less curiosity about others than
herself.

Rachel pulled herself together.

"Violet," she said, "we have known each other five months, haven't we?"

"Yes, exactly. The first time you came to my house was that dreadful
night of the drawing of lots. I always thought Edward drew the short
lighter. It was so like him to turn it off with a laugh."

"I want you to remember, if ever you think hardly of me, that during
those five months I did try to be a friend. I may have failed, but--I
did my best."

"But you did not fail. You have been a real friend, and you will always
be so, dear Rachel. And when Hugh and I are married you will of