u and went up to town to Cavendish Square, the act
might be considered from two sides of the equation. If he came back
to enter again into the social life which, for so many years, he had
abjured, it was not very sensible, because the world never welcomes its
deserters; it might, if men and women grew younger instead of older. If
he came to see his family, or because he hungered for his godchild, or
because--but we are hurrying the situation. It were wiser not to state
the problem yet. The afternoon that he arrived at Cavendish Square
all his family were out except his brother's wife. Lali was in the
drawing-room, receiving a visitor who had asked for Mrs. Armour and Mrs.
Francis Armour. The visitor was received by Mrs. Francis Armour. The
visitor knew that Mrs. Armour was not at home. She had by chance seen
her and Marion in Bond Street, and was not seen by them. She straightway
got into her carriage and drove up to Cavendish Square, hoping to find
Mrs. Francis Armour at home. There had been house-parties at Greyhope
since Lali had come there to live, but this visitor, though once an
intimate friend of the family, had never been a guest.

The visitor was Lady Haldwell, once Miss Julia Sherwood, who had made
possible what was called Francis Armour's tragedy. Since Lali had come
to town Lady Haldwell had seen her, but had never met her. She was not
at heart wicked, but there are few women who can resist an opportunity
of anatomising and reckoning up the merits and demerits of a woman who
has married an old lover. When that woman is in the position of
Lali, the situation has an unusual piquancy and interest. Hence Lady
Haldwell's journey of inquisition to Cavendish Square.

As Richard passed the drawing-room door to ascend the stairs, he
recognised the voices.

Once a sort of heathen, as Mrs. Francis Armour had been, she still could
grasp the situation with considerable clearness. There is nothing
keener than one woman's instinct regarding another woman, where a man
is concerned. Mrs. Francis Armour received Lady Haldwell with a quiet
stateliness, which, if it did not astonish her, gave her sufficient
warning that matters were not, in this little comedy, to be all her own
way.

Thrown upon the mere resources of wit and language, Mrs. Francis Armour
must have been at a disadvantage. For Lady Haldwell had a good gift of
speech, a pretty talent for epithet, and no unnecessary tenderness. She
bore Lali no malice. She was