y things
she did jarred on her relatives, that they were not fully aware of the
great improvement in her appearance. Even Richard admitted her trying at
times.

Marion went up to town to stay with Mrs. Townley, and there had to face
a good deal of curiosity. People looked at her sometimes as if it was
she and not Lali that was an Indian. But she carried things off bravely
enough, and answered those kind inquiries, which one's friends make when
we are in embarrassing situations, with answers so calm and pleasant
that people did not know what to think.

"Yes," she said, in reply to Lady Balwood, "her sister-in-law might be
in town later in the year, perhaps before the season was over: she could
not tell. She was tired after her long voyage, and she preferred the
quiet of Greyhope; she was fond of riding and country-life; but still
she would come to town for a time." And so on.

"Ah, dear me, how charming! And doesn't she resent her husband's
absence--during the honeymoon? or did the honeymoon occur before she
came over to England?" And Lady Balwood tried to say it all playfully,
and certainly said it something loudly. She had daughters.

But Marion was perfectly prepared. Her face did not change expression.
"Yes, they had had their honeymoon on the prairies; Frank was so
fascinated with the life and the people. He had not come home at once,
because he was making she did not know how great a fortune over there in
investments, and so Mrs. Armour came on before him, and, of course, as
soon as he could get away from his business, he would follow his wife."

And though Marion smiled, her heart was very hot, and she could have
slain Lady Balwood in her tracks. Lady Balwood then nodded a little
patronisingly, and babbled that "she hoped so much to see Mrs. Francis
Armour. She must be so very interesting, the papers said so much about
her."

Now, while this conversation was going on, some one stood not far behind
Marion, who seemed much interested in her and what she said. But Marion
did not see this person. She was startled presently, however, to hear a
strong voice say softly over her shoulder: "What a charming woman Lady
Balwood is! And so ingenuous!"

She was grateful, tremulous, proud. Why had he--Captain Vidall--kept out
of the way all these weeks, just when she needed him most, just when he
should have played the part of a man? Then she was feeling twinges at
the heart, too. She had seen Lady Agnes Martling that af