s and steamers,
Ovid ran up to Carmina. Another and another kiss; and then away to the
house-door, with Zo at his heels, trying to get into the cab with him.
A last kind word to the child, as they carried her back to the house; a
last look at the familiar faces in the doorway; a last effort to resist
that foretaste of death which embitters all human partings--and Ovid was
gone!

VOLUME TWO

CHAPTER XXI.

On the afternoon of the day that followed Ovid's departure, the three
ladies of the household were in a state of retirement--each in her own
room.

The writing-table in Mrs. Gallilee's boudoir was covered with letters.
Her banker's pass-book and her cheque-book were on the desk; Mr.
Gallilee's affairs having been long since left as completely in the
hands of his wife, as if Mr. Gallilee had been dead. A sheet of paper
lay near the cheque-book, covered with calculations divided into two
columns. The figures in the right-hand column were contained in one line
at the top of the page. The figures in the left-hand column filled the
page from top to bottom. With her fan in her hand, and her pen in the
ink-bottle, Mrs. Gallilee waited, steadily thinking.

It was the hottest day of the season. All the fat women in London fanned
themselves on that sultry afternoon; and Mrs. Gallilee followed the
general example. When she looked to the right, her calculations showed
the balance at the bank. When she looked to the left, her calculations
showed her debts: some partially paid, some not paid at all. If she
wearied of the prospect thus presented, and turned for relief to
her letters, she was confronted by polite requests for money; from
tradespeople in the first place, and from secretaries of fashionable
Charities in the second. Here and there, by way of variety, were
invitations to parties, representing more pecuniary liabilities,
incurred for new dresses, and for hospitalities acknowledged by dinners
and conversaziones at her own house. Money that she owed, money that she
must spend; nothing but outlay of money--and where was it to come from?

So far as her pecuniary resources were concerned, she was equally
removed from hope and fear. Twice a year the same income flowed in
regularly from the same investments. What she could pay at any future
time was far more plainly revealed to her than what she might owe. With
tact and management it would be possible to partially satisfy creditors,
and keep up appearances for six mo