All his splendid record in the army--when he was over age too--and then the way he behaved about that corporation! I never understood just why he did it--I'm sure I could never bring myself to refuse so much money,--but that doesn't keep me from admiring him." For a minute she looked at Corinna with a smile which seemed as permanent as the rest of her surface, while she discreetly sharpened her wits for the stab which was about to be dealt.

"I can't tell you how surprised I was to hear you had announced your engagement.

You know we were so sure that he was going to marry Alice Rokeby after she got her divorce.

Of course nobody knew.

It was just gossip, and you and I both know how absurd gossip can be." So this was why she had stopped! Corinna flinched from the thrust even while she told herself that there was no shadow of truth in the old rumour, that malice alone had prompted Rose Stribling to repeat it.