ving her own convictions in
matters of personal taste and conduct.

For a while, as they rode, Rosamund was characteristically amusing,
sailing blandly over the shoals of scandal, though Eileen never
suspected it--wittily gay at her own expense, as well as at others,
flitting airily from topic to topic on the wings of a self-assurance
that becomes some women if they know when to stop. But presently the
mischievous perversity in her bubbled up again; she was tired of being
good; she had often meant to try the effect of a gentle shock on Miss
Erroll; and, besides, she wondered just how much truth there might be in
the unpleasantly persistent rumour of the girl's unannounced engagement
to Selwyn.

"It _would_ be amusing, wouldn't it?" she asked with guileless
frankness; "but, of course, it is not true--this report of their
reconciliation."

"Whose reconciliation?" asked Miss Erroll innocently.

"Why, Alixe Ruthven and Captain Selwyn. Everybody is discussing it, you
know."

"Reconciled? I don't understand," said Eileen, astonished. "They can't
be; how can--"

"But it _would_ be amusing, wouldn't it? and she could very easily get
rid of Jack Ruthven--any woman could. So if they really mean to
remarry--"

The girl stared, breathless, astounded, bolt upright in her saddle.

"Oh!" she protested, while the hot blood mantled throat and cheek, "it
is wickedly untrue. How could such a thing be true, Mrs. Fane! It is--is
so senseless--"

"That is what I say," nodded Rosamund; "it's so perfectly senseless that
it's amusing--even if they have become such amazingly good friends
again. _I_ never believed there was anything seriously sentimental in
the situation; and their renewed interest in each other is quite the
most frankly sensible way out of any awkwardness," she added cordially.

Miserably uncomfortable, utterly unable to comprehend, the girl rode on
in silence, her ears ringing with Rosamund's words. And Rosamund, riding
beside her, cool, blond, and cynically amused, continued the theme with
admirable pretence of indifference:

"It's a pity that ill-natured people are for ever discussing them; and
it makes me indignant, because I've always been very fond of Alixe
Ruthven, and I am positive that she does _not_ correspond with Captain
Selwyn. A girl in her position would be crazy to invite suspicion by
doing the things they say she is doing--"

"Don't, Mrs. Fane, please, don't!" stammered Eileen; "I--I really can't