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To be misunderstood, to be blamed and pitied, to be made a pedestal for Dora's superiority, was a situation not to be contemplated It was better to look over Dora's rudeness in the flush of Dora's pretended sorrow for it So they forgave each other, or said they did, and then Dora explained herself She declared that she had not the least intention of any wrong "You see, Ethel, what a fool the ht to treat a fool according to his folly That is all I was doing I am sure Basil is so far above Fred Mostyn that I could never put them in comparison--and Basil knows it He trusts me"

"Very well, Dora If Basil knows it, and trusts you, I have no more to say I aet that it was naet now When I am Basil's wife I shall have to be very sedate, and of course not even pretend to know if any other man admires me Little lunches with Fred, theater and opera parties, and even dances will be over forup for Basil! And sometimes I think he never realizes how dreadful it must be for me"

"You will have your lover all the time then Surely his constant companionship will atone for all you relinquish"

"Take off your coat and hat, Ethel, and sit down comfortably I don't know about Basil's constant companionship Tete-a-tetes are tiresome affairs sometimes"

"Yes," replied Ethel, as she half-reluctantly removed her coat, "they were a bore undoubtedly even in Paradise I wonder if Eve was tired of Adam's conversation, and if that lad you mentioned that circumstance, Ethel I shall remember it Some day, no doubt, I shall have to remind Basil of the failure of Adam to satisfy Eve's idea of perfect companionship" And Dora put her pretty, jeweled hands up to her ears and laughed a low, h it

This pseudo-reconciliation was not conducive to pleasant intercourse After a short delay Ethel made an excuse for an early departure, and Dora accepted it without her usual remonstrance The day had been one of continual friction, and Dora's irritable pettishness hard to bear, because it had now lost that childish unreason which had always induced Ethel's patience, for Dora had lately put away all her ignorant immaturities She had become a person of i ladies of St Jude's had made a pet of their revered rector's love, and the elder ladies had also shown a s' fine house was now talked about and visited Men of high financial power respected Mr Dan Denning, and advised the social recognition of his fa was not now found more eccentric than many other of the new rich, who had been tolerated in the ranks of the older plutocrats Even Bryce hadhe desired He was seen with the richest and idlest young men, and was invited to the best houses Those fashionable woible, and men te assistance for a consideration at Bryce's little office on William Street