hing contagious), an unusual
form of neuralgia, from which she had suffered before. The only doctor
who had ever been able to relieve her pain lived in San Francisco, and
in San Francisco she must seek him.

She had at first an idea of sailing on the same ship with the Nelson
Smiths; but for a reason which she did not explain, she changed her mind
the day after making it up, and engaged a cabin on a boat which started a
week earlier.

She was missed, also, for a while. But then it was remembered that the
crystal visions had been mysteriously more favourable for those who
included the Countess in their nicest parties than for those who asked
her to their second best. Little malicious digs which she had given were
recalled, and those who had thought her wonderful when in their midst
began to doubt her powers.

"Rather theatrical, don't you think?" said the Duchess of Peebles. "It's
more satisfactory to go to a woman you can pay with money and not
invitations."

So Madalena was not mourned for long; and the Annesley-Setons were
fortunate enough to replace their lost American millionaire with one from
Australia. He was old, and his wife was fat; but you can't have
everything.

* * * * *

The Nelson Smiths took passage not on one of the great floating palaces
patronized by millionaires, but on an obscure, cheap little ship, which
bore out the gossip about the man's losses. As a matter of fact, however,
they chose that way of going by Annesley's desire. It would have been
Knight's way to vanish in a blaze of glory, as the setting sun plunges
behind the horizon after a gorgeous day.

"I want to go on a ship," she said, "which none of the people we know
have ever heard of. I couldn't bear to come across anyone I ever met
before."

But, as it turned out, she was forced to bear what she had thought
unbearable. At the top of the gangway as she went on board, a slightly
shrill voice called out, "Why, how _do_ you do! Who would ever have
thought of meeting you two expensive creatures on board _this_ tub?"

With a sinking heart Annesley recognized a Mrs. Waldo, an American woman
(there was a husband in attendance) whom she and Knight had met during
their honeymoon at the Knowle Hotel. The pair had been so friendly and
kind that the Nelson Smiths had asked them to Portman Square more than
once during the three gay months which followed.

But it was cruel, thought Annesley, that fate should b