he people who matter in Paris he was quite famous."

"Oh, I didn't know that," said Susan, without a trace of doubt or of
sarcasm.

"How could you? Besides, Sennier is a great man, the only man we have,
in fact. So you were going to stay with the Heaths?"

"I am going. I promised Charmian Heath."

"When?"

"In about ten days, I think. My mother is rather unwell, only a bad
cold. But I like to be at Folkestone to help Mrs. Simpkins."

"Susan, what an extraordinary person you are!"

"Why?"

"You are. But you are so extraordinary that I could never make you see
why. Sandringham and Mrs. Simpkins! There is no one like you."

She branched off to various topics, but presently returned to the
Algerian visit.

"What do you think of Charmian Heath, Susan--really think, I mean? Do
you care for her?"

"Yes, I do."

"Oh, I don't mean as a theosophist, I mean as a human being."

Susan smiled. "We are human beings."

"You are certainly. But, of course, I know you embrace Charmian Heath
with your universal love, just as you embrace me and Mrs. Simpkins and
the King and the crossing-sweeper at the corner. That doesn't interest
me. I wish to know whether you like her as you don't like me and the
King and the crossing-sweeper?"

"Charmian Heath and I are good friends. I am interested in her."

"In a woman!"

"Greatly because she is a woman."

"I know you're a suffragette at heart!"

They talked a little about politics. When coffee came, Mrs. Shiffney
suddenly said:

"I'll take you over to Algiers, Susan."

"But you don't want to go there."

"It's absurd your going in one of those awful steamers from Marseilles
when the yacht is only about half an hour away."

"Half an hour! I thought she was at Naples."

"I said _about_ half an hour on purpose to be accurate."

"Really, I would just as soon take the steamer," said Susan.

This definite, though very gentle, resistance to her suddenly conceived
project decided Mrs. Shiffney. If Susan genuinely wished to go to
Algiers by the public steamer, then she would have to go on the yacht.
Mrs. Shiffney had realized from the beginning of their conversation that
Susan wished to go to Algiers alone. There had been something in the
tone of her voice, in her expression, her quiet manner, which had
convinced Mrs. Shiffney of that. Her curiosity was awake, and something
else.

"Susan dear, you must allow me to take care of you as far as Algiers,"
she said. "If you don't