I leave that"-- and she could not wholly suppress in tone the scorn she felt--"to married women; though it seems to me that it is a fault less venial in them than in single ones.

There is but one inmate of this house who flirts, so far as I have seen since I have lived in it; is it you or I, Lady Mount Severn ?" The home truth told on her ladyship.

She turned white with rage, forgot her manners, and, raising her right hand, struck Isabel a stinging blow upon the left cheek.

Confused and terrified, Isabel stood in pain, and before she could speak or act, my lady's left hand was raised to the other cheek, and a blow left on that.

Lady Isabel shivered as with a sudden chill, and cried out--a sharp, quick cry--covered her outraged face, and sank down upon the dressing chair.