attern of the one you had, which she
well remembers. This seems to me pretty conclusive evidence. At
least it was so to my mind, and I acted accordingly."

Mrs. Comegys sat for the full space of a minute with her eyes upon
the floor, without speaking. When she looked up, the flush that had
covered her face had gone. It was very pale, instead. Rising from
her chair, she bowed formally, and without saying a word, withdrew.

"Ah me! Isn't it sad?" murmured Mrs. Markle, as she heard the street
door close upon her visitor. "So much that is agreeable and
excellent, all dimmed by the want of principle. It seems hardly
credible that a woman, with every thing she needs, could act
dishonestly for so small a matter. A few yards of lawn against
integrity and character! What a price to set upon virtue!"

Not more than half an hour after the departure of Mrs. Comegys, Mrs.
Grimes called in to see Mrs. Markle.

"I hope," she said, shortly after she was seated, "that you won't
say a word about what I told you a few days ago; I shouldn't have
opened my lips on the subject if you hadn't asked me about it. I
only mentioned it in the first place to a friend in whom I had the
greatest confidence in the world. She has told some one, very
improperly, for it was imparted to her as a secret, and in that way
it has been spread abroad. I regret it exceedingly, for I would be
the last person in the world to say a word to injure any one. I am
particularly guarded in this."

"If it's the truth, Mrs. Grimes, I don't see that you need be so
anxious about keeping it a secret," returned Mrs. Markle.

"The truth! Do you think I would utter a word that was not true?"

"I did not mean to infer that you would. I believe that what you
said in regard to Mrs. Comegys was the fact."

"It certainly was. But then, it will do no good to make a
disturbance about it. What has made me call in to see you is this;
some one told me that, in consequence of this matter, you had
dropped the acquaintance of Mrs. Comegys."

"It is true; I cannot associate on intimate terms with a woman who
lacks honest principles."

"But don't you see that this will bring matters to a head, and that
I shall be placed in a very awkward position?"

"You are ready to adhere to your statement in regard to Mrs.
Comegys?"

"Oh, certainly; I have told nothing but the truth. But still, you
can see that it will make me feel exceedingly unpleasant."

"Things of this kind are never ver