"I meant only that I'm sorry it happened." "Yes; but why ?" "Mama"-- Mildred turned to her, leaning forward and speaking in a lowered voice--"Mama, at first the change was so little it seemed as if Arthur hardly knew it himself.

He'd been lovely to me always, and he was still lovely to me but--oh, well, you've understood--after my dance it was more as if it was just his nature and his training to be lovely to me, as he would be to everyone a kind of politeness.

He'd never said he CARED for me, but after that I could see he didn't.

It was clear--after that.

I didn't know what had happened; I couldn't think of anything I'd done.