ide, and Marion and
Bienville, on the other, should be kept, if possible, from meeting.

"Not that I think," Mrs. Bayford went on, "that Raoul--that's his
name--would ever take up with her again. Still, you never can tell;
I've seen such cases. A fire will often blaze up when you think it's
out. And now that everything is going so smoothly it would be a
thousand pities to throw any obstacle in the way."

"Everything is going smoothly, then? I'm glad of that, for Marion's
sake."

"Yes; it's practically a settled thing. When it seemed likely that he
would return to France by way of New York, Robert Grimston wrote me to
say that if anything happened it would have his full consent. Things
move rapidly in Paris, and the whole episode is as much a part of the
past as last year's styles. Then, too, everybody there knows now that
Raoul didn't kill George Eveleth; and, of course, that removes a certain
unpleasant thought that some people might have about him."

"Have you seen him yet?"

"I heard from him this morning. He asked if he could call on Marion and
me this afternoon. You can guess what was my reply."

The nature of this having been made clear, Mrs. Bayford went on to
express her fears as to the complications which might arise from the
chance meeting of Bienville and Derek on the steamer, of which the
former had given her information in his note. Nothing would be more
natural now than for Derek to invite Marion and Bienville to dinner; and
there would be Diane!

"I think I can relieve your mind on that point," Miss Lucilla said,
trying to choose her words cautiously. "There would be no danger of
their meeting Mrs. Eveleth just now, as she has left Dorothea for the
present."

There was so much satisfaction to Mrs. Bayford in knowing that, as far
as Diane was concerned, the coast was comparatively clear, that she
gathered up her skirts and departed. After she had gone, Miss Lucilla's
sense of being the pivot of a romantic plot was heightened by the
appearance of Diane. She came in with her usual air of confidence in her
ability to meet the world, and if her pale face showed traces of tears
and sleeplessness, its expression was, if anything, more courageous. Had
it not been for this brave show Miss Lucilla would have wanted to
embrace her and hold her hands, but, as it was, she could only retire
shyly into herself, as in the presence of one too strong to need the
support of friends.

"No; don't call my mother-in