r rich brown hair, dressed in defiance of the prevailing
fashion, was thrown back from her forehead, and gathered into a simple
knot behind--without adornment of any sort. A little white ribbon
encircled her neck, fastened by the only article of jewelry that she
wore--a tiny diamond brooch. She was unquestionably handsome; but her
beauty was of the somewhat hard and angular type which is so often seen
in English women of her race: the nose and chin too prominent and too
firmly shaped; the well-opened gray eyes full of spirit and dignity, but
wanting in tenderness and mobility of expression. Her manner had all
the charm which fine breeding can confer--exquisitely polite, easily
cordial; showing that perfect yet unobtrusive confidence in herself
which (in England) seems to be the natural outgrowth of pre-eminent
social rank. If you had accepted her for what she was, on the surface,
you would have said, Here is the model of a noble woman who is perfectly
free from pride. And if you had taken a liberty with her, on the
strength of that conviction, she would have made you remember it to the
end of your life.

We got on together admirably. I was introduced as "Mrs. Woodville," by
previous arrangement with the Major--effected through Benjamin. Before
the dinner was over we had promised to exchange visits. Nothing but the
opportunity was wanting to lead Lady Clarinda into talking, as I wanted
her to talk, of Mrs. Beauly.

Late in the evening the opportunity came.

I had taken refuge from the terrible bravura singing of the Major's
strident prima donna in the back drawing-room. As I had hoped and
anticipated, after a while Lady Clarinda (missing me from the group
around the piano) came in search of me. She seated herself by my side,
out of sight and out of hearing of our friends in the front room; and,
to my infinite relief and delight, touched on the subject of Miserrimus
Dexter of her own accord. Something I had said of him, when his name had
been accidentally mentioned at dinner, remained in her memory, and led
us, by perfectly natural gradations, into speaking of Mrs. Beauly. "At
last," I thought to myself, "the Major's little dinner will bring me my
reward!"

And what a reward it was, when it came! My heart sinks in me again--as
it sank on that never-to-be-forgotten evening--while I sit at my desk
thinking of it.

"So Dexter really spoke to you of Mrs. Beauly!" exclaimed Lady Clarinda.
"You have no idea how you surpri