hat fact for yourself?"

"I did. Yes. But why?"

"Oh, many reasons. I dress fashionably. I hate parish work. I don't
go to `teas,' or give them in return. I'm lazy about calls. I'm not
interested in the people, and I can't pretend."

"Oh, but I shall be interested. I always am. I love all those dear old
things in their dolmans and black silks. They are types of the
old-fashioned women, whom I've read about, but never known. I shall
love studying them, and hearing their views, and shocking them by
telling them mine in return. They'll love being shocked--all prim old
ladies love it. They're all walking home now, buzzing over my _faux
pas_, and feeling as perked up as if they'd been to the theatre. They
think they are grieved, but they have really enjoyed themselves
immensely. I lived with a very old great-aunt before my marriage, so
I'm an expert in old ladies."

Cassandra assented absently. She was not interested in old ladies, but
she was interested in watching Grizel as she talked. Her practised eye
took in every detail of her appearance, and every detail was right. She
studied her features, her expression, the waves of her soft fair hair,
the swiftly moving hands, and sat smiling, appearing to listen, while
her thoughts raced ahead, planning future meetings, seeing herself
blessed with a friend who would fill the empty gap.

"I shall be jealous of the old ladies if you give them too much of your
company!" she said, with a charming smile which accentuated the flattery
of the remark. Grizel smiled back with a little nod of acknowledgment,
and Cassandra lifted her muff as if preparing to depart, asking casually
the while:

"Have you good news of your sister-in-law, Miss Beverley? I knew her
slightly, and admired her a great deal. She went to India, I think?"

Grizel's eyes danced with animation.

"She did. Yes. To visit a friend. We saw her off at Marseilles, my
husband and I, and a fortnight later we were sitting in a cafe, drinking
coffee, and flirting outrageously, when we suddenly saw the name of the
ship on a poster! It had been in a collision in the Indian Ocean; and
the passengers had to take to the boats. If another ship had not come
to the rescue, they might all have been drowned."

"What a terrible experience! How sad for the poor girl, just when she
was starting for such a delightful visit!"

"Not at all sad. Not at all. A very good thing," said Grizel
unexpectedly. "K