en replied in the affirmative.

"And you, M. de Bois?" inquired the marchioness innocently, though she
was quite aware that he would repeat his lordship's answer, for she had
been consulted in regard to the guests whom it would gratify her to
meet.

Mrs. Gilmer, who was choking with vexation, sought revenge in one of
those petty manoeuvres which women of the world thoroughly understand.
She paused, in the most natural manner, before the hat which she had
just extolled, and which she had been informed was designed for Madame
de Fleury, and said aloud,--

"What a pretty bonnet! Admirably suited to hide the defects of an
uncertain complexion, and hair of no color, neither light nor dark. It
is not too gay or coquettish either; just the thing for a woman of
thirty, who has begun to fade."

"I beg pardon, madame, it is intended for Madame de Fleury," answered
Victorine, reprovingly, and not immediately comprehending the
intentional spite of Mrs. Gilmer's remark.

"Indeed!" returned the latter, still speaking as though she had no
suspicion of the presence of the marchioness; "will it not be rather
_young_ for her? It seems to me that these colors are a _little too
bright_ for a person of _her age_."

"Madame de Fleury is present, and may overhear you," whispered
Victorine, warningly.

"Ah, indeed! I did not perceive her; much obliged to you for telling me,
for she conceals her age so well that I would not mortify her by letting
her suppose that I am aware of her advanced years," continued the
malicious little lady in a very audible tone.

Madame de Fleury was, in reality, but twenty-five, and particularly
sensitive on the subject of her age, or rather of her youth. She
expected to be taken for twenty-two at the most, and had been furious
when Mrs. Gilmer talked of her bonnet as suitable to a person of thirty;
but when her spiteful rival had the audacity to suggest that Madame de
Fleury had even passed that decisive period, she could scarcely contain
her rage. By a sudden impulse she turned and faced the speaker. Both
ladies made a profound courtesy, with countenances expressive of mortal
hatred.

Lord Linden could not help whispering to Gaston, "Feminine belligerents!
Those courtesies were exchanged after the manner that men exchange
blows. It is very strange," he continued, looking about. "I do not see
my fair incognita, though she certainly entered here. I fancy the
marchioness intends to depart; I prefer to lin