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Madame Olenska did not move when he came up behind her, and for a second their eyes met in the mirror; then she turned, threw herself into her sofa-corner, and sighed out: "There's tiarette"

He handed her the box and lit a spill for her; and as the fla eyes and said: "What do you think of me in a temper?"

Archer paused a moment; then he answered with sudden resolution: "Itabout you"

"I knew she'd been talking about s--splendours and aive you here"

Madame Olenska smiled faintly into the circle of sibly ros!"

Archer hesitated again, and again took his risk "Is your aunt's romanticism always consistent with accuracy?"

"You mean: does she speak the truth?" Her niece considered "Well, I'll tell you: in al untrue But why do you ask? What has she been telling you?"

He looked away into the fire, and then back at her shining presence His heart tightened with the thought that this was their last evening by that fireside, and that in a e would come to carry her away

"She says--she pretends that Count Olenski has asked her to persuade you to go back to him"

Madaarette in her half-lifted hand The expression of her face had not changed; and Archer remembered that he had before noticed her apparent incapacity for surprise

"You knew, then?" he broke out

She was silent for so long that the ash dropped froarette She brushed it to the floor "She has hinted about a letter: poor darling! Medora's hints--"

"Is it at your husband's request that she has arrived here suddenly?"

Madaain: one can't tell She told me she had had a 'spiritual suoing to marry Dr Carverpoor Medora, there's always some one she wants to ot tired of her! I think she ith them as a sort of paid companion Really, I don't knohy she came"

"But you do believe she has a letter froain Madame Olenska brooded silently; then she said: "After all, it was to be expected"