Janet made a fairly successful attempt to drown her sense of insincerity in the recognition.

She, Janet, was conscious of a deliberate effort to widen and deepen the sympathy between them.

An obscure desire to make reparation, she hardly knew for what, combined itself with a great longing to see their friendship the altogether beautiful and perfect thing its mirage was, and pushed her on to seize every opportunity to fortify the place, she had retaken.

Elfrida had never found her so considerate, so appreciative, so amusing, so prodigal of her gay ideas, or so much inclined to go upon her knees at shrines before which she sometimes stood and mocked.

She had a special happiness in availing herself of an opportunity which resulted in Elfrida's receiving a letter from the editor of the _St.George's_ asking her for two or three articles on the American Colony in Paris, and only very occasionally she recognized, with a subtle thrill of disgust, that she was employing diplomacy in every action, every word, almost every look which concerned her friend.