d many excuses for Richard
Calmady."

"If it comes to that there are a good many excuses for Helen de
Vallorbes," Honoria put in quickly.

"For? For?" the young man repeated, relaxing into the blandest of
smiles. "Yes, thanks--I see I was right. It was unnecessary to name
names.--Oh! undoubtedly, innumerable excuses, and of the most valid
description, were they needed--were they not swallowed up in the
single, self-evident excuse that the lady you mention is a supremely
clever and captivating person."

"You think so?" said Honoria.

"Think so? Show me the man so indifferent to his reputation for taste
that he could venture to think otherwise!"

"Still she should have left him alone."--Honoria's indolent, reflective
speech took on a peculiar intonation, and she pressed her long-fingered
hands together, as though controlling a shudder. "I--I'm ashamed to
confess it, I do not like him. But, as I told you, just on that
account----"

"Pardon me, on what account?"

Miss St. Quentin was quick to resent impertinence, and now momentarily
anger struggled with her natural sincerity. But the latter conquered.
Again she forgave Mr. Quayle. But a dull flush spread itself over her
pale skin, and he perceived that she was distinctly moved. This piqued
his curiosity.

"I know I'm awfully foolish about some things," she said. "I can't bear
to speak of them. I dread seeing them. The sight of them takes the
warmth out of the sunshine."

Again Ludovic fell to nursing his knee.--What an amazing invention is
the feminine mind! What endless entertainment is derivable from
striving to follow its tergiversations!

"And you saw that which takes the warmth out of the sunshine just now?"
he said. "Ah! well--alas, for Dickie Calmady!"

"Still I can't bear any one not to play fair. You should only hit a man
your own size. I told Helen de Vallorbes so. I'm very, very fond of
her, but she ought to have spared him."--She paused a moment. "All the
same if I had not promised Lady Aldham to stay on--as she's so poorly I
should have gone out of town when I found the Calmadys had come up."

"Oh! it goes as far as that, does it?" Ludovic murmured.

"I don't like to see them with all these people. The extent to which he
is petted and fooled becomes rather horrible."

"Are you not slightly--I ask it with all due deference and
humility--just slightly merciless?"

"No, no," the girl answered earnestly. "I don't think I'm that. The
women who r