probably she had heard quite
enough, she had no sympathies; and with Lady George she had her own
special ground of quarrel. Five or six very long minutes passed during
which little or nothing was said. The Baroness did not wish to expend
her eloquence on an unprofitable young lady, and Lady George could find
no subject for small talk. At last the door was opened and the servant
invited the Baroness to go downstairs. The Baroness had perhaps been
unfortunate, for at this very time Lady Selina Protest was down in the
dining-room discussing the affairs of the Institute with Aunt Ju. There
was a little difficulty in making the lady understand what was required
of her, but after a while she did follow the servant down to the
dining-room.

Lady George, as soon as the door was closed, felt that the blood
rushed to her face. She was conscious at the moment that Captain De
Baron had been this girl's lover, and that there were some who said
that it was because of her that he had deserted the girl. The girl had
already said words to her on the subject which had been very hard to
bear. She had constantly told herself that in this matter she was quite
innocent,--that her friendship with Jack was simple, pure friendship,
that she liked him because he laughed and talked and treated the world
lightly; that she rarely saw him except in the presence of his cousin,
and that everything was as it ought to be. And yet, when she found
herself alone with this Miss Mildmay, she was suffused with blushes and
uneasy. She felt that she ought to make some excuse for her visit. "I
hope," she said, "that your aunt will understand that I brought the
lady here only because she insisted on being brought." Miss Mildmay
bowed. "She came to me, and I really couldn't quite understand what she
had to say. But the brougham was there, and she would get into it. I am
afraid there has been some quarrel."

"I don't think that matters at all," said Miss Mildmay.

"Only your aunt might think it so impertinent of me! She took me to
that Institute once, you know."

"I don't know anything about the Institute. As for the German woman,
she is an impostor; but it doesn't matter. There are three of them
there now, and they can have it out together." Lady George didn't
understand whether her companion meant to blame her for coming, but was
quite sure, from the tone of the girl's voice and the look of her eyes,
that she meant to be uncivil. "I am surprised," continued