ast you won't affect ignorance as to the person of whom I speak.
I assure you that I am not the only one who has noticed this."

"You misinterpret my behaviour altogether. Of course, you are speaking
of Miss Doran. If your observation had been accurate, you would have
noticed that Miss Doran gives me no opportunity of paying her
attentions, if I wished. Certainly I have had conversations with Mrs.
Lessingham, but I see no reason why I should deny myself that pleasure."

"This is sophistry. You walked about the museum with _both_ these
ladies for a long time yesterday."

Clifford was startled, and could not conceal it.

"Of course," he exclaimed, "if my movements are watched, with a view to
my accusation--!"

And he broke off significantly.

"Your movements are not watched. But if I happen to hear of such
things, I must draw my own conclusions."

"I give you my assurance that the meeting was purely by chance, and
that our conversation was solely of indifferent matters--of art, of
Pompeii, and so on."

"Perhaps you are not aware," resumed Mrs. Denyer, with a smile that
made caustic comment on this apology, "that, when we sit at table, your
eyes are directed to Miss Doran with a frequency that no one can help
observing."

Marsh hesitated; then, throwing his head back, remarked in an
unapproachable manner:

"Mrs. Denyer, you will not forget that I am an artist."

"I don't forget that you profess to be one, Mr. Marsh."

This was retort with a vengeance. Clifford reddened slightly, and
looked angry. Mrs. Denyer had reached the point to which her remarks
were from the first directed, and it was not her intention to spare the
young man's susceptibilities. She had long ago gauged him, and not
inaccurately on the whole; it seemed to her that he was of the men who
can be "managed."

"I fail to understand you," said Marsh, with dignity.

"My dear Clifford, let me speak to you as one who has your well-being
much at heart. I have no wish to hurt your feelings, but I have been
upset by this silly affair, and it makes me speak a little sharply.
Now, I see well enough what you have been about; it is an old device of
young gentlemen who wish to revenge themselves just a little for what
they think a slight. Of course you have never given a thought to Miss
Doran, who, as you say, would never dream of carrying on a flirtation,
for she knows how things are between you and Madeline, and she is a
young lady of very proper beh