She read in every glance of Stephen's eyes, in every tone of his voice, the depth and the warmth of his feeling towards Mercy.

The jealous distrust which she had felt at first, and which had slept for a brief time under the spell of Mercy's kindliness towards herself, sprang into fiercer life than ever.

Stephen and Mercy, in utter unconsciousness of the change which was gradually taking place, talked and laughed together in an evident gay delight, which made matters worse every moment.

A short and surly reply from Mrs.White to an innocent question of Mrs.Carr's fell suddenly on Mercy's ear.

Keenly alive to the smallest slight to her mother, she turned quickly towards Mrs.White, and, to her consternation, met the same steady, pitiless, aggressive look which she had seen on her face in their first interview.