near the pulpit."

"You know already what a humbug she is," Alicia said, but Captain
Filbert's inner eye seemed retained by that imaginary congregation.

"Well, it wouldn't be any attraction for me," she said, rising to go
through the little accustomed function of her departure. "I'll be going
now, I think. Ensign Sand has fever again, and I have to take her place
at the Believers' Meeting." She took Hilda's hand in hers and held it
for an instant. "Good-bye, and God bless you--in the way you most need,"
she said, and turned to Alicia, "Good-bye. I am glad to know that we
will be one in the glad hereafter though our paths may diverge"--her eye
rested with acknowledgment upon Alicia's embroidered sleeves--"in this
world. To look at you I should have thought you were of the bowed down
ones, not yet fully assured, but perhaps you only want a little
more oxygen in the blood of your religion. Remember the word of the
Lord--'Rejoice! again I say unto you, rejoice!' Goodbye."

She drew her head-covering farther forward, and moved to the door. It
sloped to her shoulders and made them droop; her native clothes clung
about her breast and her hips in the cringing Oriental way. Miss Howe
looked after her guest with a curl of the lip as uncontrollable as it
was unreasonable. "A saved soul, perhaps. A woman--oh, assuredly," she
said in the depths of her hair.

The door had almost closed upon Captain Filbert when Alicia made
something like a dash at an object about to elude her. "Oh," she
exclaimed, "wait a minute. Will you come and see me? I think--I think
you might do me good. I live at Number Ten, Middleton Street. Will you
come?"

Laura came back into the room. There was a little stiffness in her air,
as if she repressed something.

"I have no objection," she said.

"To-morrow afternoon--at five? Or--my brother is dining at the
club--would you rather come to dinner?"

"Whichever is agreeable to you will suit me." She spoke carefully, after
an instant's hesitation.

"Then do come and dine--at eight," Alicia said; and it was agreed.

She stood staring at the door when Laura finally closed it, and only
turned when Hilda spoke.

"You are going to have him to meet her," she said. "May I come too?"

"Certainly not." Alicia's grasp was also by this time on the door
handle.

"Are you going too? You daren't talk about her!" Hilda cried.

"I'm going too. I've got the brougham. I'll drive her home," said
Alicia, and went ou