he smallest
notion what advantage a knowledge of the colour would be to either one of
them.

Trix dabbed the stump of her cigarette on the table.

"Well, don't let her know we think there's anything wrong. If you want to
remain wrapped up in the light-hearted cloak, nothing is more annoying
than having any one prying to see what's underneath,--unless it's the
right person, of course. And we're not sure that we are--yet. We must
just wait till she feels like giving us a peep, if she ever does."

A silence fell. Miss Tibbutt took up her knitting again. Trix hummed a
little air from a popular opera. Presently Miss Tibbutt sighed. Trix left
off humming.

"What's the matter, Tibby?"

Miss Tibbutt sighed more deeply. "I'm afraid it's my fault," she said.

"What's your fault?" demanded Trix.

"I've not noticed Pia. I thought everything was all right after what she
said. I ought to have noticed. I've been too wrapped up in my own
affairs. Perhaps if I'd been more sympathetic I should have found out
what was the matter."

Trix laughed, a happy amused, comfortable little laugh.

"Oh, Tibby, you angel, that's so like you. You always want to shoulder
the blame for every speck of wrong-doing or depression that appears in
your little universe. Women like you always do. It's an odd sort of
responsible unselfishness. That doesn't in the very least express to any
one else what I mean, but it does to myself. You never allow that any one
else has any responsibility when things go wrong, and you never take the
smallest share of the responsibility--or the praise, rather--when things
go right."

Miss Tibbutt laughed. In spite of her queer earnestness over what
seemed--at all events to others--very little things, and her quite
extraordinary conscientiousness--some people indeed might have called it
scrupulosity--she had really a keen sense of humour. She was always ready
to laugh at her own earnestness as soon as she perceived it. She was not,
however, always ready to abandon it, unless it were quite, quite obvious
that she had really better do so. And then she did it with a quick mental
shake, and put an odd little mocking humour in its place.

"But, my dear, one generally is responsible, and that just because my
universe is so small, as you justly pointed out. But I always believe
literally what any one says. I don't in the least mean that Pia said what
was not true. Of course she thought she had swept away the cobweb and the