"What does she want of a good conscience ?" From under her high tiara an instant she almost looked down at him.

"Ah you do hate her!" He coloured, but held his ground.

"Don't you tell me yourself she's to be feared ?" "Yes, and watched.

But--if possible--with amusement." "Amusement ?" Mr.Longdon faintly gasped.
"Look at her now," his friend went on with an indication that was indeed easy to embrace.

Separated from them by the width of the room, Mrs.
Brook was, though placed in profile, fully presented; the satisfaction with which she had lately sunk upon a light gilt chair marked itself as superficial and was moreover visibly not confirmed by the fact that Vanderbank's high-perched head, arrested before her in a general survey of opportunity, kept her eyes too far above the level of talk.