e
brains and the character and the heart; the makers and leaders, are not
found at the dinners and balls we are honored with invitations to by
Mrs. Nailor and her like. Alice Lancaster was saying the other day--"

Mrs. Wentworth froze up.

"Alice Lancaster!" Her eyes flashed. "Do not quote her to me!" Her lips
choked with the words.

"She is a friend of yours, and a good friend of yours," declared Keith,
boldly.

"I do not want such friends as that," she said, flaming suddenly. "Who
do you suppose has come between my husband and me?"

"Not Mrs. Lancaster."

"Yes."

"No," said Keith, firmly; "you wrong them both. You have been misled."

She rose and walked up and down the room in an excitement like that of
an angry lioness.

"You are the only friend that would say that to me."

"Then I am a better friend than others." He went on to defend Mrs.
Lancaster warmly.

When Keith left he wondered if that outburst meant that she still loved
Norman.

It is not to be supposed that Mr. Keith's visits to the house of Mrs.
Wentworth had gone unobserved or unchronicled. That portion of the set
that knew Mrs. Wentworth best, which is most given to the discussion of
such important questions as who visits whom too often, and who has
stopped visiting whom altogether, with the reasons therefor, was soon
busy over Keith's visits.

They were referred to in the society column of a certain journal
recently started, known by some as "The Scandal-monger's Own," and some
kind friend was considerate enough to send Norman Wentworth a
marked copy.

Some suggested timidly that they had heard that Mr. Keith's visits were
due to his opinion of the governess; but they were immediately
suppressed.

Mrs. Nailor expressed the more general opinion when she declared that
even a debutante would know that men like Ferdy Wickersham and Mr. Keith
did not fall in love with unknown governesses. That sort of thing would
do to put in books; but it did not happen in real life. They might
visit them, but--! After which she proceeded to say as many ill-natured
things about Miss Lois as she could think of; for the story of Lois's
stopping her ears had also gotten abroad.

Meantime, Keith pursued his way, happily ignorant of the motives
attributed to him by some of those who smiled on him and invited him to
their teas. A half-hour with Lois Huntington was reward enough to him
for much waiting. To see her eyes brighten and to hear her voice grow
so