s."

"It has been a quick friendship."

"Yes;--a quick friendship," said Madame Goesler. Then there was a
pause for some moments which Madame Goesler was determined that she
would not break. It was clear to her now on what ground Lady Glencora
had come to her, and she was fully minded that if she could bear the
full light of the god himself in all his glory, she would not allow
herself to be scorched by any reflected heat coming from the god's
niece. She thought she could endure anything that Lady Glencora might
say; but she would wait and hear what might be said.

"I think, Madame Goesler, that I had better hurry on to my subject
at once," said Lady Glencora, almost hesitating as she spoke, and
feeling that the colour was rushing up to her cheeks and covering her
brow. "Of course what I have to say will be disagreeable. Of course I
shall offend you. And yet I do not mean it."

"I shall be offended at nothing, Lady Glencora, unless I think that
you mean to offend me."

"I protest that I do not. You have seen my little boy."

"Yes, indeed. The sweetest child! God never gave me anything half so
precious as that."

"He is the Duke's heir."

"So I understand."

"For myself, by my honour as a woman, I care nothing. I am rich and
have all that the world can give me. For my husband, in this matter,
I care nothing. His career he will make for himself, and it will
depend on no title."

"Why all this to me, Lady Glencora? What have I to do with your
husband's titles?"

"Much;--if it be true that there is an idea of marriage between you
and the Duke of Omnium."

"Psha!" said Madame Goesler, with all the scorn of which she was
mistress.

"It is untrue, then?" asked Lady Glencora.

"No;--it is not untrue. There is an idea of such a marriage."

"And you are engaged to him?"

"No;--I am not engaged to him."

"Has he asked you?"

"Lady Glencora, I really must say that such a cross-questioning
from one lady to another is very unusual. I have promised not to be
offended, unless I thought that you wished to offend me. But do not
drive me too far."

"Madame Goesler, if you will tell me that I am mistaken, I will beg
your pardon, and offer to you the most sincere friendship which one
woman can give another."

"Lady Glencora, I can tell you nothing of the kind."

"Then it is to be so! And have you thought what you would gain?"

"I have thought much of what I should gain:--and something also of
what I should lo