se. A useless
treachery seemed to her peculiarly unpardonable. She hated having done
a wrong without securing a _quid pro quo_. Even if Father Robertson was
right, and Rosamund Leith's departure from the Sisterhood were the first
step on the road to Constantinople, she might arrive too late.

Although she was once more with Carey, Lady Ingleton felt unusually
depressed.

Soon after five the door of her boudoir was opened by a footman, and
Mrs. Clarke walked slowly in, looking Lady Ingleton thought, even
thinner, even more haggard and grave than usual. She was perfectly
dressed in a gown that was a marvel of subtle simplicity, and wore a hat
that drew just enough attention to the lovely shape of her small head.

"Certainly she has the most delicious head I ever saw," was Lady
Ingleton's first (preposterous) thought. "And the strongest will I ever
encountered," was the following thought, as she looked into her friend's
large eyes.

After they had talked London and Paris for a few minutes Lady Ingleton
changed the subject, and with a sort of languid zest, which was intended
to conceal a purpose she desired to keep secret, began to speak of
Pera and of the happenings there while she had been away. Various
acquaintances were discussed, and presently Lady Ingleton arrived,
strolling, at Dion Leith.

"Mr. Leith is still here, isn't he?" she asked. "Carey hasn't seen him
lately but thinks he is about."

"Oh yes, he is still here," said Mrs. Clarke's husky voice.

"What does he do? How does he pass his time?"

"I often wonder," replied Mrs. Clarke, squeezing a lemon into her cup,
which was full of clear China tea.

She put the lemon, thoroughly squeezed, down on its plate, looking
steadily at her friend, and continued:

"You remember last summer when I asked you to be kind to him, and told
you why I was interested in him, poor fellow?"

"Oh yes."

"I really thought at that time it would be possible to assist him to get
back into life, what we understand by life. You helped me like a true
friend."

"Oh, I really did nothing."

"You enabled me to continue my acquaintance with him here," said Mrs.
Clarke inflexibly.

Lady Ingleton was silent, and Mrs. Clarke continued:

"You know what I did, my efforts to interest him in all sorts of things.
I even got Jimmy out because I knew Mr. Leith was fond of him, threw
them together, even tried to turn Mr. Leith into a sort of holiday
tutor. Anything to take him out of