en regarded it as essential to her purposes. In her face
he read chastity; her eye avoided no scrutiny; her palm was cold.

One does not break the heart of such a woman. Heartbreak is a very
old-fashioned disorder, associated with poverty of brain. If Rhoda were
what he thought her, she enjoyed this opportunity of studying a modern
male, and cared not how far he proceeded in his own investigations,
sure that at any moment she could bid him fall back. The amusement was
only just beginning. And if for him it became earnest, why what did he
seek but strong experiences?

Rhoda, in the meantime, had gone home. She shut herself in her bedroom,
and remained there until the bell rang for dinner.

Miss Barfoot entered the dining-room just before her; they sat down in
silence, and through the meal exchanged but a few sentences, relative
to a topic of the hour which interested neither of them.

The elder woman had a very unhappy countenance; she looked worn out;
her eyes never lifted themselves from the table.

Dinner over, Miss Barfoot went to the drawing-room alone. She had sat
there about half an hour, brooding, unoccupied, when Rhoda came in and
stood before her.

'I have been thinking it over. It isn't right for me to remain here.
Such an arrangement was only possible whilst we were on terms of
perfect understanding.'

'You must do what you think best, Rhoda,' the other replied gravely,
but with no accent of displeasure.

'Yes, I had better take a lodging somewhere. What I wish to know is,
whether you can still employ me with any satisfaction?'

'I don't employ you. That is not the word to describe your relations
with me. If we must use business language, you are simply my partner.'

'Only your kindness put me into that position. When you no longer
regard me as a friend, I am only in your employment.'

'I haven't ceased to regard you as a friend. The estrangement between
us is entirely of your making.'

Seeing that Rhoda would not sit down, Miss Barfoot rose and stood by
the fireplace.

'I can't bear reproaches,' said the former; 'least of all when they are
irrational and undeserved.'

'If I reproached you, it was in a tone which should never have given
you offence. One would think that I had rated you like a disobedient
servant.'

'If _that_ had been possible,' answered Rhoda, with a faint smile, 'I
should never have been here. You said that you bitterly repented having
given way to me on a certain occasio