of an injured woman. She complained to her mother
that an infamous advantage had been taken of a trifling escapade. "I
simply went to see an old friend off to Cuba; and Yanna--because of a
conversation I had with her a few days previously--is sure I am going
to desert my husband and child. She races down to the steamer, and
makes a scene there; and Antony follows to bring on a grand climax!
No! I will not forgive either Yanna or Antony."

"What had you said to Yanna?"

"Just a little serious conversation--such as I wanted to be good, and
so on--and I asked her if anything happened to me to look after baby.
Feeling always makes a fool of me. I won't feel any more. I won't want
to be good any more."

"You had no necessity to ask that woman to look after baby. Was not I
sufficient?"

"I was in one of my good moods. I wanted Yanna to think I was lovely.
I do not care now what any one thinks."

And she acted out this programme to its last letter. She was either
despondently or mockingly indifferent to all that was proposed. After
some delay, her father and mother went to Europe. Yanna and Harry went
to stay with Miss Alida; and Antony made what preparations were
necessary, and removed his household to the Filmer place at Woodsome.
Rose took no part in the removal. When she perceived that the house
was to be closed, she accompanied Antony to the country. But no good
resulted from the change. She refused to see visitors; if she went
out, it was entirely alone; and she passed Yanna and Miss Alida as if
they were utter strangers to her. A spoiled, wilful girl, who had
never felt the bit on her life, she had suddenly thrown off all
control but that of the evil spirit which had taken possession of
her.

Still she preserved a kind of decorum. There was a general impression
that she had nearly lost her reason about her child's death; and
people excused and pitied her aberrations in consequence, or if rumors
of the real truth permeated society at Woodsome, it was quickly
discredited. Men and women alike pointed to the devotion of Antony and
refused to believe it; and in some way the sorrowful shake of Miss
Alida's head at Rose's name, and Yanna's painful silence, impressed on
the community an idea of Rose's suffering rather than of her
wickedness. Sometimes a servant would say boldly that Mrs. Van Hoosen
was ill-tempered and took too much wine, but no one credited the
judgment, except those who hated Rose and wished to believ