ang of
remembrance, but Madame arched her eyebrows, and tapped her foot on the
floor in noiseless irritation. It was time that this nonsense came to
an end!

"Well, dear people," she began airily, "let us get to business! It's so
much wiser to talk things over quietly, when there is any
misunderstanding. I thought it was so clever of Geoffrey to suggest
this meeting. Letters are quite useless. One always forgets the most
important things, or, if one remembers, they look so horribly
disagreeable in black and white, and people bring them up against one
years afterwards. Dear Elma, I'm afraid you think me a cruel old woman!
I am desolated to appear so unfeeling, especially as I should certainly
have fallen in love with you in Geoffrey's place, but it's not always a
question of doing what we like in this world. I am sure your dear
mother has taught you that. I said to Geoffrey: `Elma has such sweet,
true feelings, I shall be quite satisfied to trust to her decision when
the matter has been put fully before her!'"

"Thank you," said Elma, faintly. She had put down her cup, and now sat
with her fingers clasped tightly together on her lap. The two elder
ladies faced her from the opposite side of the room; Geoffrey fidgeted
about, and finally seated himself--not by her side, as had obviously
been his first impulse--but some little distance away, where he could
watch the expression of her face. Mrs Ramsden pushed the tea-table
aside, and fidgeted with the jet trimming on her cuff.

"I--er, I think we should get on better if Mr Greville would--would
kindly leave us alone!" she said awkwardly. "We are well acquainted
with his arguments, and as Elma is to decide, there seems no object in
his staying on. Elma will, no doubt, feel quieter and less restrained
without his presence."

Madame's murmur of agreement was interrupted by a sharp exclamation from
her son. He looked flushed and angry, but Elma checked him in his turn,
and answered herself, in clear, decided accents! "No, mother! I shall
feel much better if Geoffrey is here. I don't want him to go. If I am
persuaded to give him up, it is only right that he should know my
reasons. He will promise to listen quietly to what you have to say, as
I am going to do, and not to interrupt until you have done." She turned
towards her lover with a flickering smile. "Won't you, Geoffrey?"

Geoffrey bit his moustache, and scowled heavily.

"I'll--do my best!" he sa