.

"Oh, what exquisite embroidery!" cried Jessie. "Are you going to buy
some, Mrs. Varrick?"

"I am thinking of engaging this young person to come to the house and
make some for me, under my supervision," she returned.

"I would give so much to know how to make it!" exclaimed Jessie.

"If this young woman will give you instructions, you can take them,"
said Mrs. Varrick.

At that moment Hubert Varrick entered.

"What is all this discussion about, ladies?" he asked.

Gerelda uttered a quick gasp as he crossed the threshold. Her heart was
in her eyes behind those blue glasses. She had pictured him as being
worn and haggard with grieving for her. Did her eyes deceive her? Hubert
Varrick looked brighter and happier than she had ever seen him look
before, and, like a flash, Captain Frazier's words occurred to her--he
had soon found consolation in a new love.

"This woman is an adept at embroidering," said Jessie, "and she is to
teach me how to do it. When I have thoroughly learned it, the very first
thing I shall make will be a lovely smoking-jacket for you."

"Oh, thank you!" exclaimed Hubert. "Believe that it will be a precious
souvenir. I shall want to keep it so nice, that I will hardly dare wear
it, lest I may soil it."

The girl laughed a little merry laugh. It was well for her that she did
not turn and look at the stranger just then. Mrs. Varrick was making
arrangements with her, but she was so intently listening to that
whispered conversation about the jacket, that she scarcely heard a word
she said. She was only conscious that Mrs. Varrick had touched the bell
for one of the servants to come and show her the apartment she was to
occupy.

"May I ask the name, please?" Mrs. Varrick said.

"Miss Duncan," was the reply.

From the moment Miss Duncan--as she called herself--entered that
household her torture began. It was bad enough to be told by Captain
Frazier of her would-be lover's lack of constancy; but to witness it
with her own eyes--ah, that was maddening!

"Would that I had never entered this household!" she cried out.

She was unable to do justice to her work. Her whole life merged into one
desire--to watch Hubert Varrick and Jessie Bain.

She employed herself in embroidering a light silken scarf. This she
could take out under the trees, and see the two playing lawn-tennis on
the greensward just beyond the lilac hedge.

There was not a movement that escaped her watchful eyes during the whole