lated her warmly on the match. "The lady is very
fetching, indeed," he said. "I remarked that the first day on
ship-board. Oh, yes, I know a diamond when I see it. But your son
picks it up. Lucky fellow! He picks it up!" He told Miss Vance that
there was a curious attraction about her friend, "who, by the way,
should always wear brown velvet and lace."

Miss Vance drew little Lucy aside after dinner. "Do you see," she
said, "the tears in her eyes? It wrenches my heart. She has become an
old woman in a day. I feel as if Frances were dead, and that was her
ghost joking and laughing."

Lucy said nothing, but she went to Frances and sat beside her all
evening. When the prince arrived and was presented, going on his
triumphant way through the room, she nestled closer, whispering, "What
do you think of him?"

"He looks very like our little fat Dutch baker in Weir--he has the same
air of patronage," said Frances coldly. She was offended that Lucy
should notice the man at all. Was it not she whom George should have
married? How happy they would have been--her boy and this sweet, neat
little girl! And already Lucy was curious about so-called princes!

When his Highness came back to them she rose hastily and went to her
own room.

Late that night Miss Vance found her there in the dark, sitting bolt
upright in her chair, still robed in velvet and lace. Clara regarded
her sternly, feeling that it was time to take her in hand.

"You have not forgiven George?" she said abruptly.

Mrs. Waldeaux looked up, but said nothing.

"Is he coming back soon?"

"He never shall come back while that woman is with him."

Miss Vance put her lamp on the table and sat down. "Frances," she said
deliberately, "I know what this is to you. It would have been better
for you that George had died."

"Much better."

"But he didn't die. He married Lisa Arpent. Now it is your duty to
accept it. Make the best of it."

"If a lizard crawls into my house will you tell me to accept it? Make
the best of it? Oh, my God! The slimy vile creature!"

"She is not vile! I tell you there are lovable qualities in Lisa. And
even if she were as wicked as her mother, what right have you---- You,
too, are a sinner before God."

"No," said Mrs. Waldeaux gravely, "I am not. I have lived a good
Christian life. I may have been tempted to commit sin, but I cannot
remember that I ever did it."

Miss Vance looked at her aghast. "But su