She had had it as a girl; she had not lost it as a woman, any more than she had lost a soft little spontaneous laugh which was one of her unusual charms--for few women can laugh audibly with effect.

She laughed very softly now, and, her sense of humour supervening for the moment, she said: "Really, you have asked me a conundrum.

I fancy I see Mrs.Armour's face when she gets the news,--at the breakfast-table, of course, and gives a little shriek, and says: 'General! oh, General!' But it is all very shocking, you know," she added, in a lower voice.

"Still I think they will receive her and do the best they can for her; because, you see, there she is, married hard and fast.

She bears the Armour name, and is likely to make them all very unhappy, indeed, if she determines to retaliate upon them for any neglect." "Yes.