e to the side of the car all
blushes.

"She's pleased--that's plain," said Mrs. Potten to herself.

But Mrs. Potten was mistaken. Gwendolen's vivid colour came not from the
cause which Mrs. Potten imagined. Gwendolen's colour came simply from
alarm at the sight of Mrs. Potten and Mr. Harding speaking to one
another, and this alarm was not lessened when Mrs. Potten exclaimed--

"Mr. Harding has been telling me that you made ninety-three pounds, ten
shillings and threepence from the Sale?"

"Oh, did we?" murmured Gwendolen, and her colour came and went away.

"We did, thanks to Mrs. Potten's purchases," said Harding, with
obsequious playfulness, and he took his leave.

Then Mrs. Potten leaned over the car towards Gwendolen and whispered--

"I was waiting till he had gone, as I don't know if you intend all
Oxford to know----"

Gwendolen's lips were pouted into a terrified expression.

"Your engagement, I mean," explained Mrs. Potten.

Gwendolen breathed again, and now she laughed. Oh, why had she been so
frightened? That silly little affair of yesterday was over, it was dead
and buried! It was absolutely safe, and here was the first real proper
congratulations and acknowledgment of her importance.

"You've got a charming man, very charming," said Mrs. Potten.

Gwendolen admitted that she had, and then Mrs. Potten waved her hand and
was gone.

That morning, when Gwendolen had come down to breakfast, she wondered
how she was going to be received, and whether she would have to wait
again for recognition as the future Mrs. Middleton. Breakfast had been
put half an hour later.

She had found Lady Dashwood and Mrs. Dashwood already at breakfast. The
Warden had had breakfast alone a little before eight. Lady Dashwood
called to her and, when she came near, kissed her, and said very
quietly--

"The Warden has told me."

And then Mrs. Dashwood smiled and stretched out her hand and said: "I
have been allowed to hear the news."

And Gwendolen had looked at them both and said: "Thanks ever so much. I
can scarcely believe it, only I know it's true!"

However, the glamour of the situation was gone because the Warden's seat
was empty. He could be heard in the hall; the taxi could be heard and
the door slamming, and he never came in to say "Good-bye"! Still it was
all exhilarating and wonderfully full of hope and promise, and
mysterious to a degree!

The conversation at breakfast was not about herself, but that did