es, however, but stood watching with a lazy smile while
her companion threw off her furs in business-like fashion. The square
emerald sparkled against the whiteness of her hand, as she turned over
flowers, searching for the most perfect specimens. Once more Dane
watched it with fascinated attention, once more looked from it to
Teresa's hands, reddened and stained with soil, and hastily averted his
eyes. Henceforth he kept them averted. There was no disloyalty in
admiring a beautiful thing. The wrong began when one stooped to
invidious comparisons.

By degrees it came about that Cassandra arranged, while the others stood
by, and supplied her wants. She was accustomed to the handling of
delicate blooms, and possessed little coaxing tricks of propping and
supporting, which added greatly to their effect. Of the first two vases
completed, hers was so palpably superior, that the obvious course was to
invite her to undertake all five. Teresa gave the invitation with a
good grace, and stood aside handing sprays of lilies, and disentangling
delicate fronds of green.

As she stood she faced a small mirror on the wall, before which the Rev.
Vicar presumably concluded his clerical toilet. At the moment it gave
back the reflection of herself and Cassandra, standing side by side, and
the contrast stung. At home, by the same law of contrast, Teresa
complacently considered herself next door to a beauty, but seen side by
side with Cassandra Raynor, her image appeared of a sudden coarsened and
blunted. Moreover, the inferiority was not confined to the body;
mentally as well as physically she was at a disadvantage;--her words
seemed halting and difficult, compared with the other's delicate ripple
of conversation. Teresa's honesty accepted the fact, disagreeable
though it was. The little ache at her heart was not caused so much by
jealousy, as by regret for the hour which she had longed for, the hour
which was not to be. Surreptitiously she watched Peignton to see if he
shared her disappointment. His manner was quieter than when they had
been alone together. He looked less at his ease, but he was interested,
his eyes followed the delicate work with absorbed attention. He was
more interested, rather than less. Teresa felt suddenly very tired.
She had hoped he would look disappointed!

Meanwhile Grizel had strolled out of the vestry and stood viewing the
scene with lazy, smiling eyes. The workers were so busy that they h