too decorous and high for that. In her
mind the wife of the man she had discarded was a mere commonplace
catastrophe, to be viewed without horror, maybe with pity. She had heard
the alien spoken well of by some people; others had seemed indignant
that the Armours should try to push "a red woman" into English society.
Truth is, the Armours did not try at all to push her. For over three
years they had let society talk. They had not entertained largely in
Cavendish Square since Lali came, and those invited to Greyhope had
a chance to refuse the invitations if they chose. Most people did not
choose to decline them. But Lady Haldwell was not of that number. She
had never been invited. But now in town, when entertainment must be more
general, she and the Armours were prepared for social interchange.

Behind Lady Haldwell's visit curiosity chiefly ran. She was in a way
sorry for Frank Armour, for she had been fond of him after a fashion,
always fonder of him than of Lord Haldwell. She had married with her
fingers holding the scales of advantage; and Lord Haldwell dressed well,
was immensely rich, and the title had a charm.

When Mrs. Francis Armour met her with her strange, impressive dignity,
she was the slightest bit confused, but not outwardly. She had not
expected it. At first Lali did not know who her visitor was. She had not
caught the name distinctly from the servant.

Presently Lady Haldwell said, as Lali gave her hand "I am Lady Haldwell.
As Miss Sherwood I was an old friend of your husband."

A scornful glitter came into Mrs. Armour's eyes--a peculiar touch of
burnished gold, an effect of the light at a certain angle of the lens.
It gave for the instant an uncanny look to the face, almost something
malicious. She guessed why this woman had come. She knew the whole
history of the past, and it touched her in a tender spot. She knew she
was had at an advantage. Before her was a woman perfectly trained in the
fine social life to which she was born, whose equanimity was as regular
as her features. Herself was by nature a creature of impulse, of
the woods and streams and open life. The social convention had been
engrafted. As yet she was used to thinking and speaking with all
candour. She was to have her training in the charms of superficiality,
but that was to come; and when it came she would not be an unskilful
apprentice. Perhaps the latent subtlety of her race came to help her
natural candour at the moment. For she