be depended on. For her part she
returned him all the affection of which she was capable.

At the age of fourteen Philippa had been sent to school in England, and
when she returned to her parents, who were then living in Berlin, the
tender intimacy which had existed between father and daughter had lost
nothing by absence, and their mutual devotion increased day by day.

It was soon after that a certain episode happened which, slight as it
was, must be recorded, as it was not without effect on Philippa's
development.

A man, attracted by the freshness and originality of the young girl,
and possibly piqued by the fact that she gave him no encouragement,
declared his affection and set himself deliberately to gain hers in
return.

This was not to be done in a day, and presently his fickle fancy found
a new attraction and he wearied of the game. His marriage with another
woman came as a surprise to the community, who had been watching the
affair with the usual interest evinced in such matters, and much
indignation was expressed at his behaviour. There had been no
engagement--it is doubtful if Philippa's heart had really been
touched--but his protestations of devotion had been fervent and she had
believed him, and her trust in her fellow-creatures suffered a shock.

It was unfortunate that Mr. Harford, with all his love for his child,
had been unable to guard her from the experience, which could not fail
to be hurtful to one of her over-sensitive nature, but he had been
absent on a special mission at the time. Philippa's attitude towards
the world in general, and towards men in particular, was changed; it
became one of amused toleration. Men were interesting, certainly, and
pleasant companions, but were not to be taken seriously or to be
believed in.

Since then several eligible suitors had presented themselves, but they
had never succeeded in convincing Philippa of their sincerity, and Mrs.
Harford, whose idea of a good mother was one who successfully married
off her daughter in her first, or at least her second, season, was
doomed to disappointment.

Since her father's death Philippa had been with her mother, living in
Paris, or Dresden, or on the Riviera, as the elder lady's wayward mind
directed. Mrs. Harford, who had mourned her husband with all sincerity
for longer than her friends anticipated, had recently married again.
Philippa had just bade good-bye to the bridal pair, and seen them start
off on their