which pained
her most was the unrealistic, romantic view of life which pervaded all
Hetta's thoughts. How was any girl to live in this world who could not
be taught the folly of such idle dreams?

That afternoon Hetta trusted herself all alone to the mysteries of the
Marylebone underground railway, and emerged with accuracy at King's
Cross. She had studied her geography, and she walked from thence to
Islington. She knew well the name of the street and the number at
which Mrs Hurtle lived. But when she reached the door she did not at
first dare to stand and raise the knocker. She passed on to the end of
the silent, vacant street, endeavouring to collect her thoughts,
striving to find and to arrange the words with which she would
commence her strange petition. And she endeavoured to dictate to
herself some defined conduct should the woman be insolent to her.
Personally she was not a coward, but she doubted her power of replying
to a rough speech. She could at any rate escape. Should the worst come
to the worst, the woman would hardly venture to impede her departure.
Having gone to the end of the street, she returned with a very quick
step and knocked at the door. It was opened almost immediately by Ruby
Ruggles, to whom she gave her name.

'Oh laws,--Miss Carbury!' said Ruby, looking up into the stranger's
face. Yes,--sure enough she must be Felix's sister. But Ruby did not
dare to ask any question. She had admitted to all around her that Sir
Felix should not be her lover any more, and that John Crumb should be
allowed to return. But, nevertheless, her heart twittered as she
showed Miss Carbury up to the lodger's sitting-room.

Though it was midsummer Hetta entered the room with her veil down. She
adjusted it as she followed Ruby up the stairs, moved by a sudden fear
of her rival's scrutiny. Mrs Hurtle rose from her chair and came
forward to greet her visitor, putting out both her hands to do so. She
was dressed with the most scrupulous care,--simply, and in black,
without an ornament of any kind, without a ribbon or a chain or a
flower. But with some woman's purpose at her heart she had so attired
herself as to look her very best. Was it that she thought that she
would vindicate to her rival their joint lover's first choice, or that
she was minded to teach the English girl that an American woman might
have graces of her own? As she came forward she was gentle and soft in
her movements, and a pleasant smile played rou