at Evelyn's endurance of the tyranny into which Laura's
liking had degenerated. On this particular evening, two who were
sitting on the verandah-bench came back to the subject.

"Just look at that Laura Rambotham again, will you?" said Miss
Snodgrass in her tart way. "Sulking for all she's worth. What a little
fool she is!"

"I'm sure I wonder Mrs. Gurley hasn't noticed how badly she's working
just now," said Miss Chapman; and her face wore it best-meaning, but
most uncertain smile.

"Oh, you know very well if Mrs. Gurley doesn't want to see a thing she
doesn't," retorted Miss Snodgrass. "A regular talent for going blind, I
call it--especially where Evelyn Souttar's concerned."

"Oh, I don't think you should talk like that," urged Miss Chapman
nervously.

"I say what I think," asserted Miss Snodgrass. "And if I had my way,
I'd give Laura Rambotham something she wouldn't forget. That child'll
come to a bad end yet.--How do you like that colour, Miss C.?" She had
a nest of cloth-patterns in her lap, and held one up as she spoke.

"Oh, you shouldn't say such things," remonstrated Miss Chapman.
"There's many a true word said in jest." She settled her glasses on her
nose. "It's very nice, but I think I like a bottle-green better."

"Of course, I don't mean she'll end on the gallows, if that's what
troubles you. But she's frightfully unbalanced, and, to my mind, ought
to have some sense knocked into her before it's too late.--That's a
better shade, isn't it?"

"Poor little Laura," said Miss Chapman, and drew a sigh. "Yes, I like
that. Where did you say you were going to have the dress made?"

Miss Snodgrass named, not without pride, one of the first warehouses in
the city. "I've been saving up my screw for it, and I mean to have
something decent this time. Besides, I know one of the men in the shop,
and I'm going to make them do it cheap." And here they fell to
discussing price and cut.

Thus the onlookers laughed and quizzed and wondered; no one was bold
enough to put an open question to Evelyn, and Evelyn did not offer to
take anyone into her confidence. She held even hints and allusions at
bay, with her honeyed laugh; which was HER shield against the world.
Laura was the only person who ever got behind this laugh, and what she
discovered there, she did not tell. As it was, varying motives were
suggested for Evelyn's long-suffering, nobody being ready to believe
that it could really be fondness, on her part, for