han Mr. Carnaby?'

Mrs. Strangeways looked wonderingly at her.

'How strange you are! Could I have dreamt of saying anything so
ill-mannered?'

'You implied it!' exclaimed Alma, her voice thrilling on the note of
indignation. 'How dare you so insult me! Is it possible that you have
such thoughts?'

Overcome by what seemed to her the humour of the situation, Mrs
Strangeways frankly laughed.

'I beg your pardon a thousand times, my dear Mrs. Rolfe! I have
misunderstood, I am afraid. You _are_ quite serious? Yes, yes, there
has been a misunderstanding. Pray forgive me.'

Alma rose from her chair. 'There _has_ been a misunderstanding. If you
knew my husband--if you had once met him--such a thought could never
have entered your mind. You compare him to his disadvantage with Mr
Carnaby? What right have you to do that? I believe in Mr. Carnaby's
honesty, and do you know why?--because he is my husband's friend. But
for _that_, I should suspect him.'

'My dear,' replied Mrs. Strangeways, 'you are wonderful. I prophesy
great things for you. I never in my life met so interesting a woman.'

'You may be as sarcastic as you please,' Alma retorted, in a low,
passionate voice. 'I suppose you believe in no one?'

'I have said, dear, that I believe in _you_; and I shall think it the
greatest misfortune if I lose your friendship for a mere indiscretion.
Indeed, I was only trying to understand you completely.'

'You do--now.'

They did not part in hostility. Mrs. Strangeways had the best of
reasons for averting this issue, at any cost to her own feelings, which
for the moment had all but escaped control. Though the complications of
Alma's character puzzled her exceedingly, she knew how to smooth over
the trouble which had so unexpectedly arisen. Flattery was the secret
of her influence with Mrs. Rolfe, and it still availed her. With
ostentation of frankness, she pointed a contrast between Alma and her
presumed rival. Mrs. Carnaby was the corrupt, unscrupulous woman, who
shrank from nothing to gratify a base selfishness. Alma was the artist,
pursuing a legitimate ambition, using, as she had a perfect right to
do, all her natural resources, but pure in soul.

'Yes, I understand you at last, and I admire you more than ever. You
will go far, my dear. You have great gifts, and, more than that, you
have principle. It is character that tells in the long run. And depend
upon me. I shall soon have news for you. Keep quiet; prepare yo