nd plotted together, whilst I, blind fool,
thought him my friend, and thought her too feeble, soul and body, to do
anything but droop and die when I left her."

Yes, he saw it all. Like inspiration it came upon him. In his own coin
he had been paid; the trodden worms had turned, and Lucy West and Norine
Bourdon were avenged.

Mr. Thorndyke withdrew from every one and gave himself wholly up to the
study of Mrs. Darcy. There was no scene; Mrs. Allison need not have
feared it; no gentleman present "behaved himself" more quietly or
decorously than Mr. Laurence Thorndyke. How wonderfully she had changed!
how handsome she had grown! that was the burden of his musings. And she
had loved him once--ah, yes--"not wisely, but too well." They say first
love never wholly dies out. He didn't know himself; he had had so many
first loves--centuries ago, it seemed to him now--they certainly had
died out, wholly and entirely. But with women it was different. Had she
quite outgrown the passion of her youth? And if it were not for Helen,
who could tell--

He broke off, with a sudden impulse, and joined her. For a moment she
was alone, in a curtained recess, wielding her fan with the languid
grace of a Castilian, and watching the dancers. He came softly from
behind and bent his tall head.

"Norine!"

If she had been stone-deaf she could not have sat more perfectly still
and unheeding.

"Norry!"

No motion--no sign that she heard at all.

"Mrs. Darcy!"

She moved slowly now, turning her graceful shoulder and lifting the
brown, tranquil eyes full to his face.

"Did you address yourself to me, Mr. Thorndyke?"

"Norine, there is no one to hear; for pity's sake have done with this
farce. Norine! Norine! as though I should not know you anywhere, under
any name."

"Mr. Thorndyke," Mrs. Darcy answered, her soft, sweet voice singularly
calm and clear, "if you persist in this strange delusion of yours I
shall be forced to throw myself upon the protection of Mr. Allison. As
the disinherited nephew of the late Mr. Darcy, I have no objection to
make your acquaintance; in the light of a former friend I utterly refuse
to know you. I am Mrs. Darcy. If you insist upon addressing me by any
other name I shall refuse to hear or answer."

There was no mistaking the tone in which it was said. His eyes flashed
blue fire.

"Take care!" he said; "even you may go too far! What if I tell the world
Mrs. Darcy's past?"

The dark, disdainful gaze w