exposed to the gross chances of the world could be
imagined. She did not turn her eyes on her companion as the confident
assertion was made, and she kept silence for a moment. Then she
answered placidly:

'Of course, if I'm to live--and not merely exist--I must try to, I
suppose.'

Althea was taken aback and pained by the wording of this speech. Her
national susceptibilities were again wounded by the implication that a
rare and beautiful woman--for so she termed Helen Buchanan--might be
forced, not only to hope for marriage, but to seek it; the implication
that urgency lay rather in the woman's state than in the man's. She had
all the romantic American confidence in the power of the rare and
beautiful woman to marry when and whom she chose.

'I am sure you need never try,' she said with warmth. 'I'm sure you have
dozens of delightful people in love with you.'

Miss Buchanan turned her eyes on her and laughed as though she found
this idea amusing. 'Why, in heaven's name, should I have dozens of
delightful people in love with me?'

'You are so lovely, so charming, so distinguished.'

'Am I? Thanks, my dear. I'm afraid you see things _en couleur de rose_.'
And, still smiling, her eyes dwelling on Althea with their indifferent
kindness, she went on: 'Have you delightful dozens in love with you?'

Althea did not desert her guns. She felt that the very honour of their
sex--hers and Helen's--was on trial in her person. She might not be as
lovely as her friend--though she might be; that wasn't a matter for her
to inquire into; but as woman--as well-bred, highly educated, refined
and gentle woman--she, too, was chooser, and not seeker.

'Only one delightful person is in love with me at this moment, I'm sorry
to say,' she answered, smiling back; 'but I've had very nearly my proper
share in the past.' It had been necessary thus to deck poor Franklin out
if her standpoint were to be maintained; and, indeed, could not one deem
him delightful, in some senses--in moral senses; he surely was
delightfully good. The little effort to see dear Franklin's goodness as
delightful rather discomposed her, and as Miss Buchanan asked no further
question as to the one delightful suitor, the little confusion mounted
to her eyes and cheeks. She wondered if she had spoken tastelessly, and
hastened away from this personal aspect of the question.

'You don't really mean--I'm sure you don't mean that you would marry
just for money.'

Miss Bu