g it, answered with a look
of severe dignity.

Mrs. Luke had no thought of apologizing for the lateness of her
arrival, and it was evident that she did not intend to stay long. Her
purpose seemed to be to make the occasion as informal as possible.

'Do you, by chance, know the Hodgson Bulls?' she asked of her relative,
interrupting him in the nervous commonplaces with which he was
endeavouring to smooth the way to a general conversation. She had the
accent of cultivation, but spoke rather imperiously.

'I never heard of them,' was the cold reply.

'No? They live somewhere about here. I have to make a call on them. I
suppose my coachman will find the place.'

There was an awkward silence. Widdowson was about to say something to
Monica, when Mrs. Luke, who had again closely observed the girl through
the glasses, interposed in a gentle tone.

'Do you like this neighbourhood, Miss Madden?'

Monica gave the expected answer, her voice sounding very weak and timid
by comparison. And so, for some ten minutes, an appearance of dialogue
was sustained. Mrs. Luke, though still condescending, evinced a desire
to be agreeable; she smiled and nodded in reply to the girl's remarks,
and occasionally addressed Virginia with careful civility, conveying
the impression, perhaps involuntarily, that she commiserated the shy
and shabbily-dressed person. Tea was brought in, and after pretending
to take a cup, she rose for departure.

'Perhaps you will come and see me some day, Miss Madden,' fell from her
with unanticipated graciousness, as she stepped forward to the girl and
offered her hand. 'Edmund must bring you--at some quiet time when we
can talk. Very glad to have met you--very glad indeed.'

And the personage was gone; they heard her carriage roll away from
beneath the window. All three drew a breath of relief, and Widdowson,
suddenly quite another man, took a place near to Virginia, with whom in
a few minutes he was conversing in the friendliest way. Virginia,
experiencing a like relief, also became herself; she found courage to
ask needful questions, which in every case were satisfactorily met. Of
Mrs. Luke there was no word, but when they had taken their leave--the
visit lasted altogether some two hours--Monica and her sister discussed
that great lady with the utmost freedom. They agreed that she was
personally detestable.

'But very rich, my dear,' said Virginia in a murmuring voice. 'You can
see that. I have met such peo