ard to the soothing consolations of the gaieties of Paris.
He was not the first to believe that he could leave all his troubles and
tribulations this side of the Channel.

CHAPTER XVIII

"A SPECIAL FAVOUR"

"I admire Madeline's conduct very much. I think it was splendid how she
stood up to all the reproaches, and even ridicule; she told me that she
had once, and only once, in her life been untrue to herself (she meant
in accepting Charlie), and since then she has spoken the absolute truth
to everybody about it all. She has been very plucky, and very
straightforward, and only good can come of it. Honesty and pluck,
especially for a girl--it's made so difficult for girls--they're the
finest things in the world, _I_ think."

Bertha was speaking to Nigel.

He had remained away for what seemed to him an extraordinarily long
time. He was afraid that she was slipping out of his life, without even
noticing it. Stopping away until she missed him was a complete failure,
since she _didn't_ miss him. And the day was approaching for the party
Mary had consented to give. He knew that Bertha had accepted but was
afraid she didn't mean to come. That would be too sickening! To have all
that worry with Mary, all that silly trouble and fuss for a foolish
entertainment that he detested, all for nothing at all! And Mary was
secretly enjoying the fact that she felt absolutely certain Percy would
never let her come to Nigel's house. She did not suppose Percy had
guessed the writer of the letters; but he must have thought his wife was
talked about, and some effect certainly they had had; for in the last
few weeks, she happened to know for a fact, Nigel had neither called on
or met Mrs. Kellynch. This afternoon she knew nothing of, for her
suspicions were beginning to fade, and she was not, at present, having
him followed. Nigel had taken his chance and dropped in to tea and found
luck was on his side--Bertha had just come in from a drive with
Madeline.

"It's all very well," he answered, "to say you admire her conduct, her
bravery, and all that! Whom had she to fight against? Only her mother,
whom she isn't a bit afraid of, and Charlie, who, poor chap, is more
afraid of her. The engagement wasn't even public before she broke it
off."

"Yes; but, Nigel, it was very frank of her to tell everything so openly
to Charlie. And now, poor girl, she's very unhappy, but very
courageous--she's absolutely resolved never to marry. She says