For it might now, after such an example, verily seem that women are incapable of a translucent perfect confidence: their impulses, caprices, desperations, tricks of concealment, trip a heart-whole friendship.

Well, to-morrow, if not to-day, the tripping may be expected! Lady Dunstane resigned herself sadly to a lowered view of her Tony's character.

This was her unconscious act of reprisal.

Her brilliant beloved Tony, dazzling but in beauty and the gifted mind, stood as one essentially with the common order of women.

She wished to be settled, Mr.Warwick proposed, and for the sake of living at The Crossways she accepted him--she, the lofty scorner of loveless marriages! who had said--how many times! that nothing save love excused it! She degraded their mutual high standard of womankind.