kely she is to do anything that's
not going to be for her benefit in some way. She's mighty particular in
everything, but more particular in that than in anything else."

"I'll admit that there is reason to suspect a strain of selfishness in
Rachel's nature," said Anna Bayne; "but it's the only blemish among
her many good qualities. Still, I think you do her an injustice in
attributing her absence from our meetings to purely selfish motives."

"Of course, we all know what you mean," said Elmira. "She set her cap
for Harry Glen, and played her cards so openly and boldly--"

"I should say 'shamelessly,'" interrupted Mrs. Grimes.

"Shamelessly, my dear?" This from Mrs. Tufis, as if in mild
expostulation.

"Shamelessly," repeated Mrs. Grimes, firmly.

"Well, so shamelessly, if you choose," continued Elmira, "as to incur
the ill-will of all the rest of the girls--"

"Whom she beat at a game in which they all played their best,"
interrupted Anna.

"That's an unworthy insinuation," said Elmira, getting very red. "At
least, no one can say I played any cards for that stake."

"Wasn't it because all your trumps and suit had been played out in
previous games?" This from Mrs. Grimes, whose smarting wounds still
called for vengeance.

For an instant a resumption of hostilities was threatened. Mrs. Tufis
hastened to interpose:

"There's no doubt in my mind that the poor, dear girl really took very
deeply to heart the stories that have been circulated about Harry Glen's
conduct, though there are people ready to say that she was quite willing
to play the role of the stricken one. It really makes her look very
interesting. Mourning and the plain style of wearing her hair suit her
very, VERY well. I do not think I ever saw her looking so lovely as she
has lately, and I have heard quite a number of GENTLEMEN say the same
thing.

"If she'd had real spirit," said Mrs. Grimes, "she'd have dropped Harry
Glen without all this heroine-of-a-yellow-covered-novel demonstration,
and showed her contempt of the fellow by going ahead just as usual,
pretending that his conduct was nothing to her; but she's a deep one.
I'll venture anything she's got a well-laid scheme, that none of us
dream of."

"Mrs. Tufis,"--it was the calm, even tones of Rachel Bond's voice that
fell upon the startled ears of the little coterie of gossipers. She had
glided in unobserved by them in the earnestness of their debate. "How
long has she been here and wha