Then we walked on, she musing.
Presently she said: "It is a pity--a pity." I looked at her inquiringly, but she offered no explanation of the enigmatical words.

But, at this moment, seeing Justine waiting, she excused herself, and soon I saw her listening to Moliere.

Later in the day I saw her talking with Miss Treherne, and it struck me that she had never looked so beautiful as then, and that Miss Treherne had never seemed so perfect a product of a fine convention.

But, watching them together, one who had had any standard of good life could never have hesitated between the two.

It was plain to me that Mrs.Falchion was bent upon making a conquest of this girl who so delicately withstood her; and Belle Treherne has told me since, that, when in her presence, and listening to her, she was irresistibly drawn to her; though at the same time she saw there was some significant lack in her nature; some hardness impossible to any one who had ever known love.