to
be married before the end of next month."

Jane reddened and stared at him; and he looked keenly back at her.
Gertrude, though unobserved, did not suffer her expression of patient
happiness to change in the least; but a greenish-white color suddenly
appeared in her face, and only gave place very slowly to her usual
complexion.

"Do you mean to say that you are going to marry AGATHA?" said Lady
Brandon incredulously, after a pause.

"Yes. I had no intention of doing so when I last saw you or I should
have told you."

"I never heard of such a thing in my life! You fell in love with one
another in five minutes, I suppose."

"Good Heavens, no! we are not in love with one another. Can you believe
that I would marry for such a frivolous reason? No. The subject turned
up accidentally, and the advantage of a match between us struck me
forcibly. I was fortunate enough to convert her to my opinion."

"Yes; she wanted a lot of pressing, I dare say," said Jane, glancing at
Gertrude, who was smiling unmeaningly.

"As you imply," said Trefusis coolly, "her reluctance may have been
affected, and she only too glad to get such a charming husband. Assuming
that to be the case, she dissembled remarkably well."

Gertrude took off her bonnet, and left the room without speaking.

"This is my revenge upon you for marrying Brandon," he said then,
approaching Jane.

"Oh, yes," she retorted ironically. "I believe all that, of course."

"You have the same security for its truth as for that of all the foolish
things I confess to you. There!" He pointed to a panel of looking glass,
in which Jane's figure was reflected at full length.

"I don't see anything to admire," said Jane, looking at herself with no
great favor. "There is plenty of me, if you admire that."

"It is impossible to have too much of a good thing. But I must not look
any more. Though Agatha says she does not love me, I am not sure that
she would be pleased if I were to look for love from anyone else."

"Says she does not love you! Don't believe her; she has taken trouble
enough to catch you."

"I am flattered. You caught me without any trouble, and yet you would
not have me."

"It is manners to wait to be asked. I think you have treated Gertrude
shamefully--I hope you won't be offended with me for saying so. I blame
Agatha most. She is an awfully double-faced girl."

"How so?" said Trefusis, surprised. "What has Miss Lindsay to do with
it?"

"You know ver