re
we to be friends in town? Is that what you mean?"

"Indeed we are, if you will."

Miss Cardross nodded and withdrew her hands as Virginia and Malcourt
came into view across the lawn.

Constance, following her glance, saw, and signalled silent invitation;
Malcourt sauntered up, paid his respects airily, and joined Hamil and
Wayward; Virginia spoke in a low voice to Constance, then, leaning on
the back of her chair, looked at Shiela as inoffensively as she knew
how. She said:

"I am very sorry for my rudeness to you. Can you forgive me, Miss
Cardross?"

"Yes.... Won't you have some tea?"

Her direct simplicity left Virginia rather taken aback. Perhaps she
expected some lack of composure in the girl, perhaps a more prolix
acceptance of honourable amends; but this terse and serene amiability
almost suggested indifference; and Virginia seated herself, not quite
knowing how she liked it.

Afterward she said to Miss Palliser:

"Did you ever see such self-possession, my dear? You know I might pardon
my maid in exactly the same tone and manner."

"But you wouldn't ask your maid to tea, would you?" said Constance,
gently amused.

"I might, if I could afford to," she nodded listlessly. "I believe that
girl could do it without disturbing her Own self-respect or losing caste
below stairs or above. As for the Van Dieman--just common cat,
Constance."

Miss Palliser laughed. "Shiela Cardross refused the Van Dieman son and
heir--if you think that might be an explanation of the cattishness."

"Really?" asked Virginia, without interest. "Where did you hear that
gossip?"

"From our vixenish tabby herself. The thin and vindictive are usually
without a real sense of humour. I rather suspected young Jan Van
Dieman's discomfiture. He left, you know, just after Garret arrived,"
she added demurely.

Virginia raised her eyes at the complacent inference; but even curiosity
seemed to have died out in her, and she only said, languidly:

"You think she cares for Garret? And you approve?"

"I think I'd approve if she did. Does that astonish you?"

"Not very much."

Virginia seemed to have lost all spirit. She laughed rarely, nowadays.
She was paler, too, than usual--paler than was ornamental; and pallor
suited her rather fragile features, too. Also she had become curiously
considerate of other people's feelings--rather subdued; less ready in
her criticisms; gentler in judgments. All of which symptoms Constance
had alread