d each other. And so deliciously rich you'll be, not that money
makes any difference, does it? but it is nice to be able to do things
for the people one loves.'

Althea struggled in a maze of discomfort. Behind Mrs. Mallison's
caressing intonations was something that perplexed her. What did Mrs.
Mallison know, and what did she guess? She was aware, evidently, of her
own engagement to Franklin and, no doubt, of Franklin's engagement to
Helen and its breaking off. What did she know about the cause of that
breaking off? Her troubled cogitations got no further, for Mrs. Mallison
went on:

'And how happily it has all turned out--all round--hasn't it? How horrid
for you and Mr. Kane, if it hadn't; not that you'd have had anything to
reproach yourselves with--really--I know--because love _is_ the only
thing; but if Helen and Gerald had just been left _plantes la_, it would
have been harder, wouldn't it? I've been staying with them at the same
house in the country and it's quite obvious what's happened. You knew
from the first, no doubt; but of course they are saying nothing, just as
you and Mr. Kane are saying nothing. They didn't tell me, but I guessed
at once. And the first thing I thought was: Oh--how happy--how perfect
this makes it for Miss Jakes and Mr. Kane. They've _all_ found out in
time.'

Althea grew cold. She commanded her voice. 'Helen? Gerald?' she said.
'Haven't you mistaken? They've always been the nearest friends.'

'Oh no--no,' smiled Mrs. Mallison, with even greater brightness and
gentleness, 'I never mistake these things; an affair of the heart is the
one thing that I always see. Helen, perhaps, could hide it from me; she
is a woman and can hide things--Helen is cold too--I am never very sure
of Helen's heart--of course I love her dearly, every one must who knows
her; but she is cold, unawakened, the type that holds out the cheek, not
the type that kisses. I confess that I love most the reckless, loving
type; and I believe that you and I are unlike Helen there--we kiss, we
don't hold out the cheek. But, no, I never would have guessed from
Helen. It was Gerald who gave them both away. Poor, dear Gerald, never
have I beheld such a transfigured being--he is radiantly in love, quite
radiantly; it's too pretty to see him.'

The vision of Gerald, radiantly in love, flashed horridly for Althea. It
was dim, yet bright, scintillating darkly; she could only imagine it in
similes; she had never seen anything that