to receive half a dozen quick questions.

"What are you hiding away for? What are you blushing for? I never saw
you do anything like that before! Why do you look so strange, and what
are you making me say? Angela, is it true--is there something like
that?" Without waiting for the answer to this last question, Blanche
threw herself upon Mrs. Vivian. "My own Mrs. Vivian," she cried, "is she
married?"

"My dear Blanche," said Bernard, coming forward, "has not Gordon told
you? Angela and I are not married, but we hope to be before long. Gordon
only knew it this morning; we ourselves have only known it a short time.
There is no mystery about it, and we only want your congratulations."

"Well, I must say you have been very quiet about it!" cried Blanche.
"When I was engaged, I wrote you all a letter."

"By Jove, she wrote to me!" observed Captain Lovelock.

Angela went to her and kissed her.

"Your husband does n't seem to have explained me very successfully!"

Mrs. Gordon held Bernard's intended for a moment at arm's length, with
both her hands, looking at her with eyes of real excitement and wonder.
Then she folded her in a prolonged, an exaggerated, embrace.

"Why did n't he tell me--why did n't he tell me?" she presently began.
"He has had all day to tell me, and it was very cruel of him to let
me come here without knowing it. Could anything be more absurd--more
awkward? You don't think it 's awkward--you don't mind it? Ah well, you
are very good! But I like it, Angela--I like it extremely, immensely.
I think it 's delightful, and I wonder it never occurred to me. Has
it been going on long? Ah, of course, it has been going on! Did n't it
begin at Baden, and did n't I see it there? Do you mind my alluding to
that? At Baden we were all so mixed up that one could n't tell who was
attentive to whom! But Bernard has been very faithful, my dear; I can
assure you of that. When he was in America he would n't look at another
woman. I know something about that! He stayed three months in my house
and he never spoke to me. Now I know why, Mr. Bernard; but you might
have told me at the time. The reason was certainly good enough. I always
want to know why, you know. Why Gordon never told me, for instance; that
's what I want to know!"

Blanche refused to sit down again; she declared that she was so agitated
by this charming news that she could not be quiet, and that she must
presently take her departure. Meanwhile she congrat