go into a shop? Then pray what did you go for? Excuse my
curiosity--it seems to me it 's rather flattering. I never know anything
unless I am told. I have n't any powers of observation. I noticed you
went--oh, yes, I observed that very much; and I thought it very strange,
under the circumstances. Your most intimate friend arrived in Paris, and
you choose the next day to make a little tour! I don't like to see you
treat my husband so; he would never have done it to you. And if you did
n't stay for Gordon, you might have staid for Angela. I never heard of
anything so monstrous as a gentleman rushing away from the object of his
affection, for no particular purpose that any one could discover, the
day after she has accepted him. It was not the day after? Well, it was
too soon, at any rate. Angela could n't in the least tell me what
you had gone for; she said it was for a 'change.' That was a charming
reason! But she was very much ashamed of you--and so was I; and at last
we all sent Captain Lovelock after you to bring you back. You came back
without him? Ah, so much the better; I suppose he is still looking for
you, and, as he is n't very clever, that will occupy him for some time.
We want to occupy him; we don't approve of his being so idle. However,
for my own part, I am very glad you were away. I was a great deal at
Mrs. Vivian's, and I should n't have felt nearly so much at liberty
to go if I had known I should always find you there making love to
Mademoiselle. It would n't have seemed to me discreet,--I know what you
are going to say--that it 's the first time you ever heard of my wishing
to avoid an indiscretion. It 's a taste I have taken up lately,--for the
same reason you went to London, for a 'change.'" Here Blanche paused
for an appreciable moment; and then she added--"Well, I must say, I have
never seen anything so lovely as Mrs. Vivian's influence. I hope mamma
won't be disappointed in it this time."

When Bernard next saw the other two ladies, he said to them that he
was surprised at the way in which clever women incurred moral
responsibilities.

"We like them," said Mrs. Vivian. "We delight in them!"

"Well," said Bernard, "I would n't for the world have it on my
conscience to have reconciled poor Gordon to Mrs. Blanche."

"You are not to say a word against Blanche," Angela declared. "She 's a
little miracle."

"It will be all right, dear Bernard," Mrs. Vivian added, with soft
authority.

"I have taken