yet she couldn't help
recalling their first encounter in the particularly dull boarding-house
where Clara was temporarily shelved; where, nevertheless, she had not
conceded an inch of her class, nor a ray of her luster to circumstance.
This surprising luster was the gloss of her body, the quality of her
clothes and accessories, the way she traveled and the way she smiled. It
was the bloom of luxury she kept about her person through all her
varying surroundings. She had never to rise to the level of a new
position; she was there already; and she never came down.

Flora knew it was for just her air of being ready that she had trusted
Clara, and for the three years of their association she had never failed
to find her companion ready wherever their common interests were
concerned. She had no reason for not trusting Clara now, except the
knowledge that, by her own approaching marriage, their interests would
be separated, and her feeling that Clara's prudence must already be by
way of looking out for itself alone.

Yet Clara would do a kindness if it did not inconvenience her, and
surely this morning she had been kind. Still Flora felt she didn't want
to reveal anything until she was a little surer of her own position.
When she knew better where she stood she would know what she could
confide to Clara. Meanwhile, if there was any one to whom she could turn
now it would surely be Harry.

Yet, if she did, what a lot of awkward explanations! She could not
return the sapphire without giving a reason, and what a thing to
explain--that she had not only worn it, but, in a freak, shown it to the
one of all people he most objected to.

Nevertheless the most sensible thing clearly was to go through with it
and confess to Harry. Then she must communicate with him at once.
No--she would wait until after breakfast. There was plenty of time. Kerr
would not come until the afternoon. But after breakfast, she wondered if
it wouldn't be as well to ring him up at luncheon time? Then she would
be sure of finding him at the club.

Meanwhile she dared not let the sapphire out of her grasp; and yet she
could not wear it on her hand. She had thought of the tear-shaped pouch
of gold which it was her custom to wear; but the slender length of chain
that linked it to her neck was too frail for such a precious weight. At
last she had fastened it around her neck on the strongest chain she
owned, and thus she carried it all the morning under her bod