And as she talked she was playing with a little toy which was constructed to take various shapes as it was flung this way or that.

A bystander looking at her would have thought that the toy was much more to her than the conversation.

Lady Laura was sitting upright, in a common chair, at a table not far from her companion, and was manifestly devoting herself altogether to the subject that was being discussed between them.

She had taken no lounging, easy attitude, she had found no employment for her fingers, and she looked steadily at Violet as she talked,--whereas Violet was looking only at the little manikin which she tossed.

And now Laura got up and came to the sofa, and sat close to her friend.