wholesome. Now, when are you
coming to see me?--that is the point in question."

"Dorothy will bring home your dress on Saturday," replied Phillis, a
little dryly. "If it requires alteration, perhaps you will let me
know, and of course I will come up to the White House at any time."

"But I do not mean to wait for that. You are misunderstanding me
purposely, Miss Challoner. I want you to come and talk to me one
evening,--any evening. No one but Miss Mewlstone will be there."

"Oh, no!" responded Phillis, suddenly turning very red:

"I do not think that would do at all, Mrs. Cheyne. I do not mean to be
rude or ungrateful for your kindness, but--but----" Here the girl
stammered and broke down.

"You wish, then, to confine our intercourse to a purely business
relation?" asked Mrs. Cheyne, and her voice had a tone of the old
bitterness.

"Would it not be better under the circumstances? Forgive me if I am
too proud, but----"

"Oh, you are proud, terribly proud!" returned Mrs. Cheyne, taking up
her words before she could complete her sentence. "You owe me a grudge
for what I said that night, and now you are making me pay the penalty.
Well, I am not meek: there is not a human being living to whom I would
sue for friendship. If I were starving for a kind word, I would sooner
die than ask for one. You see, I am proud too, Miss Challoner."

"Oh, I did not mean to hurt you," returned Phillis, distressed at
this, but determined not to yield an inch or bend to the sudden
caprice of this extraordinary woman, who had made her suffer so once.

"To be hurt, one must have feelings," returned this singular person.
"Do not be afraid, I shall not attempt to shake your resolution: if
you come to me now it must be of your own free will."

"And if I come, what then?" asked Phillis, standing very straight and
stiff, for she would not be patronized.

"If you come you will be welcome," returned Mrs. Cheyne; and then,
with a grave inclination of the head, she swept out of the room.

CHAPTER XXVII.

A DARK HOUR.

"I should go one evening, if I were you: it is easy to see that Mrs.
Cheyne has taken a fancy to you," said Nan, who was much interested by
this recital; but to this Phillis replied, with a very decided shake
of the head,--

"I shall do nothing of the kind; I was not made to be a fine lady's
_protegee_. If she patronized me, I should grow savage and show my
teeth; and, as I have no desire to break the peace, we