heard no more--still, she knew enough and could supply the rest. The
object of her ambush was gained: she knew now with perfect certainty
who was "the other." And how they had spoken of her! Not as a deserted
bride, whose rights had been trodden in the dust, but as a child who is
dismissed from the room as soon as it begins to be in the way. But she
thought she could see through that couple and knew why they had spoken
of her thus. Paula, of course, must prevent any new tie from being
formed between herself and Orion; and as for Orion, common prudence
required that he should mention her--her, whom he had but lately
loaded with tenderness--as a mere child, to protect himself against the
jealousy of that austere "other" one. That he had loved her, at any
rate that evening under the trees, she obstinately maintained in her own
mind; to that conviction she must cling desperately, or lose her last
foothold. Her whole being was a prey to a frightful turmoil of feeling.
Her hands shook; her mouth was parched as by the midday heat; she knew
that there were withered leaves between her feet and the sandals she
wore, that twigs had got caught in her hair; but she could not care and
when the pair were screened from her by the denser shrubs she flew back
to her raised seat-from which she could again discover them. At this
moment she would have given all she held best and dearest, to be the
thing it vexed her so much to be called: a water-wagtail, or some other
bird.

It must be very near noon if not already past; she dusted her sandals
and tidied her curly hair, picking out the dry leaves and not noticing
that at the same time a rose fell out on the ground. Only her hands were
busy; her eyes were elsewhere, and suddenly they brightened again,
for the couple on which she kept them fixed were coming back, straight
towards the hedge, and she would soon be able again to hear what they
were saying.

CHAPTER XXIII.

Orion and Paula had had much to talk about, since the young man had
arrived. The discussion over the safe keeping of the girl's money had
been tedious. Finally, her counsellors had decided to entrust half of
it to Gamaliel the jeweller and his brother, who carried on a large
business in Constantinople. He happened to be in Memphis, and they
had both declared themselves willing each to take half of the sum in
question and use it at interest. They would be equally responsible for
its security, so that each should make