t is shameful how Eugene has gone on, hardly
a day at the factory, and you two driving about and mooning on
balconies and dawdling through the grounds. Very late admiration, too,
on his part, when he would not take you in the first instance."

"Would not take me in the first instance?" Violet repeats, in a dazed,
questioning way.

"Exactly," snaps Marcia. "Perhaps you are not aware an offer of your
hand and fortune was made to Eugene Grandon, _and_ declined. So you
know now what his admiration is worth! He is ready to flirt with any----"
silly girl, she means to say, but makes it more stinging--"_any_ girl
who throws herself at his head."

"I do not in the least understand you," Violet begins, with quiet
dignity, though her voice has an unsteady sound. "_When_ was my hand
offered to Mr. Eugene Grandon?"

Marcia is a little frightened at her temerity, but she is in for it
now, and may as well make a clean sweep of all her vexations. From Mr.
Wilmarth she has gathered the idea that Floyd's marriage has been
inimical to him, and that business would have been much better served
by Violet's union with Eugene. Then, all the family have disapproved of
it, and it has been kept a secret from her. All these are sufficient
wrongs, but the fact still remains that in some way Floyd is likely to
make a great fortune for Violet, while the rest will gain nothing. More
than all, Marcia has a good deal of the wasp in her nature, and loves
to make a great buzz, as well as to sting.

"Why," she answers, with airy insolence, "Floyd wished him to marry you
and he declined, then Floyd married you himself. Your fortune was too
valuable to go out of the family, I suppose. It was about the time your
father died."

Violet pales with a mortal hurt.

"I think you are wrong there," and she summons all her strength to
combat this monstrous accusation. "Mr. Grandon liked me
because--because----"

"Oh, yes; saving Cecil gave color to the romance, and it is all very
pretty," says Marcia, with insufferable patronage. "But there was some
one else, and he could have had quite as much fortune without any
trouble. He was a fool for not marrying her."

"You shall not discuss Mr. Grandon in this manner to me," declares
Violet, indignant with wifely instincts.

"Oh, you asked me yourself!" retorts her antagonist. "If you were at
all sharp-sighted you could have seen----"

Violet stops Marcia with a gesture of her hand. She stands there white
as s