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A moment's reflection showed Anstice that this hter to visit Cherry Orchard unless his opinion of Mrs Carstairs were favourable; and his voice was non-committal as he answered

"I have heard Mrs Carstairs' story froh to relate it to e of our acquaintance," he said; and this time it was the other man's eyebrohich betokened surprise

"Indeed! I didn't expect that, or I would not have spoken I thought you had probably heard a garbled account of the whole horrible affair frohter are honoured by Mrs Carstairs' friendship I wanted to be sure you didn't allow the weight of local opinion to prejudice you in any way"

"It's awfully good of you" For once Anstice spoke spontaneously, as he ed him into another and a less impulsive person "I may take it, then, that you and Miss Wayne believe in Mrs Carstairs?"

"I believe in her as I'd believe in irl," returned Sir Richard emphatically "Mind you, Chloe Carstairs isn't perfect--we none of us are She has her faults--now She's cynical and cold, a bit of a poseuse--that marble manner of hers is artificial, I verily believe--but I' to do with those vile letters"

"You have known her long?"

"Since she was a child Her father was one of irl all tied up with blue ribbons Carstairs met her first at my people's place in Surrey, and I was really pleased when he ht her here"

"They lived here after their e?"

"Yes, for a short time only Then they were off to India, and there they remained till her child was born, and she was faced with the old problem of the woman who marries a soldier"

"You mean--wife versus mother?"

"Yes Upon my soul, Anstice, I can't understand hooman ever decides between the two claiers,the heart out of her bosom, and yet a woman wants her husband too--wants hi--as Chloe was"

"Mrs Carstairs decided for her child?"

"Yes They kept her in India as long as they dared--longer than soht her home to the old place Iris was at school then, but Chloe used to coratulated ourselves that we'd got such a pleasant neighbour You know Cherry Orchard is really the nearest house as the crow flies"