nes that ensued, he resolutely refused to do so. Then
Violet adopted another plan. She pretended to be convinced by his
assurances that it meant nothing and declared that she wished to be
friends with Muriel. She went out of her way to be nice to the girl when
they met in public and at last invited her to tea at the Eastern Palace
Hotel on an afternoon on which she knew Mrs. Dermot to be engaged.
Muriel accepted because she did not know very well how to refuse.

When she was shown into Mrs. Norton's private sitting-room she found
Wargrave already there with her hostess, who received her very amiably.
During tea the conversation flowed in safe channels at first. But
suddenly Violet startled her guests by saying:

"Now, Miss Benson, that we three are alone I think it a good opportunity
to speak very plainly about Frank's relations with you. I've just been
giving him a serious talking to about the way he has behaved to you."

The girl drew herself up haughtily.

"What do you mean, Mrs. Norton," she said. "The way Mr. Wargrave has
behaved----? I don't understand you."

"Oh yes, you do. It's best to speak plainly. I'm afraid Frank has been
leading you to believe that he's in love with you----."

"Violet!" broke in Wargrave angrily. "Please don't go on. You've no
right to say such things."

She smiled sweetly on him.

"Yes, I have, Frank. You know, my dear boy, that you've got pretty ways
with women--I fear he's rather a flirt, Miss Benson--that you are apt to
make some of them think you mean more than you do."

"What absurd nonsense!" he cried, more angrily still. "Please stop, I
beg of you."

"No, Frank, it is only right that I should warn Miss Benson." She
turned to the girl. "He hasn't told you, I'm sure, that he's not free to
marry you or any other girl."

Wargrave sprang up.

"I've told her everything about us, Violet," he protested. "I ask you as
a favour to drop the subject."

The girl sat as if turned to stone while Mrs. Norton went on:

"You are young, my dear, and can't know much about men. I suppose you've
lived in the jungle all your life. Now, a little bird has told me you've
let yourself get too fond of Frank--oh, he's very charming, I know, and
this playing at nursing a poor wounded hero is a dangerous game. But I'm
going to tell you plainly that Frank is pledged to me. He has asked me
to leave my husband for him, and I've consented; so there's no use your
trying to catch him, my dear. You're