ench.

"And then she died among strangers, just as provokingly as she had
lived. She must even run away to die, to make it seem as if her home
was not a happy one."

"What a very wicked young person; how you must have been annoyed."

"We were all deeply grieved."

"And I don't suppose that dead young woman was even grateful for
that."

"Oh, there was no gratitude in her."

"Of course not! Now, mademoiselle, let me do your eyebrows," turning
her about.

"But," pursued Miss Arthur, "when she died, my brother acquired
unconditional control of a large fortune, and you must see that my
brother is getting rather old. Well, in case of his death, a part, at
least, of this fortune will become mine."

"Yes, madame."

"My brother is too much afraid to face the thought of death and make a
new will, and papers are in existence that will give me the larger
portion of his fortune. Of course, Mrs. Arthur will get her third."

Celine was now surprised in earnest.

Miss Arthur had spoken the truth. With shrewd foresight, she had made
John Arthur sign certain papers two years before, in consideration of
sundry loans from her. And of this state of affairs every one, except
their two selves and the necessary lawyer, had remained in ignorance.

The girl's eyes gleamed. This was still better. It would make her
vengeance more complete.

And now Miss Arthur was thrown into a state of girlish agitation by
the appearance of Susan, who announced that Mr. Percy was in the
drawing-room, awaiting the pleasure of his inamorata.

She bade Celine make haste with her complexion and, after the lapse of
something like half an hour, swept down to welcome her lover, with a
great many amber silk flounces following in her wake.

Celine Leroque gazed after her for a moment and then closed the door.
Flinging herself down "at ease" in the spinster's luxurious dressing
chair, she pulled off the blue glasses and let the malicious triumph
dance in her eyes as much as it would.

"Oh, you are a precious pair, you two, brother and sister! The one a
knave, the other a fool! It is really pathetic to see how you mourn my
loss. I have a great mind to--"

Here something seemed to occur to her that checked her mutterings, and
sent her off into a deep meditation. After a long stillness she
uttered a low, mocking laugh that had, too, a tinge of mischief in it.
Rising slowly from the dressing chair she said, as she nodded
significantly to her image reflec