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"What a charot here," Lady St Craye went on

"Yes," said Betty, "it is nice," and she thought of Paula

"And do you live here all alone?"

"Yes: I had a friend with land"

"Don't you find it very dull?"

"Oh, no! I know lots of people now"

"And they come to see you here?"

Lady St Craye had decided that it was not necessary to go delicately The girl was evidently stupid, and one need not pick one's words

"Yes," said Betty

"Mr Vernon's a great friend of yours, isn't he?"

"Yes"

"I suppose you see a great deal of hi else you would like to know?"

The scratch was so sudden, so fierce, so feline that for a moment Lady St Craye could only look blankly at her hostess Then she recovered herself enough to say: "Oh, I' a lot of questions? It's a dreadful habit of mine, I'ain quite calmly and quite mercilessly

"It's quite natural that Mr Vernon should interest you But I don't think I' about hiet you some tea?"

It was impossible for Lady St Craye to reply: "I meant that I was interested in you--not in Mr Vernon;" so she said: "Thank you--that will be delightful"

Betty went along the little passage to her kitchen, and her visitor was left to revise her impressions

When Betty came back with the tea-tray, her hair isted up The kettle could be heard hissing in the tiny kitchen

"Can't I help you?" Lady St Craye asked, leaning back indolently in the most comfortable chair

"No, thank you: it's all done now"

[Illustration: "'No, thank you it's all done now'"] Betty poured the tea for the other woman to drink Her own remained untasted She exerted herself to manufacture small-talk, was very aht she inning of the interview But presently Betty's polite reer intervals of silence And Lady St Craye for once was at a loss Her nerve was gone She dared not teest pause of all Betty said suddenly: "I think I knohy you came to-day"