maladies had given the vicar's wife a great deal
of trouble.

"It's as plain as blessed daylight, mum," the woman was exclaiming,
"that this medicine don't agree with her."

"Mrs. Dibbs," broke in the other severely, "you will allow me to be a
better judge--_what_ is it?"

The housemaid had opened the door to announce Miss Bride.

"Miss Bride?" echoed the lady in astonishment. "Very well; show her
into the drawing-room."

The visitor waited for nearly a quarter of an hour. She had placed
herself on one of the least comfortable chairs, and sat there in a very
stiff attitude, holding her umbrella across her knees. After a rather
nervous survey of the room, (it had changed very little in appearance
since her last visit six years ago), she fell into uneasy
thoughtfulness, now and then looking impatiently towards the door. When
the hostess at length appeared, she rose with deliberation, her lips
just relaxed in a half-smile.

"So it is really you!" exclaimed Mrs. Lashmar, in a voice of forced
welcome. "I thought you must have altogether forgotten us."

"It's the first time I have returned to Alverholme," replied the other,
in a contrasting tone of calmness.

"And what are you doing? Where are you living? Tell me all about
yourself. Are you still at the hospital? You did get a place at a
hospital, I think? We were told so."

Mrs. Lashmar's patronage was a little more patronizing than usual, her
condescension one or two degrees more condescending. She had various
reasons for regarding Constance Bride with disapproval, the least of
them that sense of natural antipathy which was inevitable between two
such women. In briefest sentences Miss Bride made known that she had
given up dispensing two years ago, and was now acting as secretary to a
baronet's widow.

"A baronet's widow?" repeated the hostess, with some emphasis of candid
surprise. "Row did you manage that? Who is she?"

"An old friend of my family," was the balanced reply. "Lady Ogram, of
Rivenoak, near Hollingford."

"Oh! Indeed! I wasn't aware--"

Mrs. Lashmar thought better of her inclination to be trenchantly rude,
and smoothed off into commonplaces. Presently the vicar entered, and
found his wife conversing with the visitor more amiably than he had
expected.

"You have seen Miss Bride already," said Mrs. Lashmar. "I am trying to
persuade her to stay over-night with us. Is it really impossible?"

Constance civilly but decidedly declined. Addressing