The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-09-25
CHAPTER vi.
CONTINUED.

Once sort of heathen as Mrs. Fran
els Armour had been, she still could
grasp the situation with considerable
clearness There is nothing keener than
one woman's instinct regarding another
woman where man is concerned. MIS-
Francis Armour received Lady Hald-
well with quiet stateliness which, II
it did not astonish her, gave her sutii-
oient warning that matters were not in
this little comedy to be all her own
way.
Thrown upon the mere resources of
wit and language, Mrs. Francis Armour
must have been at disadvantage, for
Lady Haldwell had a good gift Of
speech, pretty talent for epithet and
no unnecessary tenderness. She bore
Lali no malice She was too decorous
and high for that In her mind the wife
of the man she had discarded was q
mere commonplace catastrophe, to be
viewed without horror, maybe with
pity. She had heard the alien spoken
well of by some people. Others had
seemed indignant that the Armours
should try TO push "a red woman" into
English society. Truth is the Armours
did not Try a, all to push her. For over
three years they had let society talk.
They had not entertained largely in
Cavendish square since Lali came, and
those invited to Greyhope had chance
to refuse the invitations if they choose.
Most people did not choose to decline
them. But Lady Haldwell was not Of
that number. She had never been inyit-
ed. But now in town, when entertain
ment must be more general, she and
the Armours were prepared for social
interchange. @
Behind Lady Haldwell's visit curios
ity chiefly ran. She was in q way sorry
for Frank Armour, for she had been
fond of him after fashion, always
fonder of him than Of Lord Haldwell.
She had married with her fingers hold
ing the scales of advantage, and Lord
Haldwell dressed well, was immensely
rich, and the title had charm.
When Mrs. Francis Armour met her
with her strange, impressive dignity,
she was the slightest bit confused, but
not outwardly. She had not expected it.
At first Lali did not know who her vis-
itor was She had not caught the name
distinctly from the servant.
Presently Lady Haldwell said, as
Lali gave her hand: Il am Lady Hald-
well. As Miss Sherwood l was an old
friend of your husband. %
A scornful glitter came into Mrs.
Armour's eyes-a peculiar touch as of
FURNISHED gold, an effect Of the light at
a certain angle of the lens. 1t gave for
the instant an uncanny look to the face,
almost something malicious. She guess
ed why this woman had come. She knew
the whole history Of the past, and it
touched her in tender corner. She
knew she was had at an advantage. Be-
fore her was woman perfectly trained
in the fine social life to which she was
born, whose equanimity was as regular
as her features. Herself was BY nature
a creature of impulse, of the woods and
streams and open life. The social con-
vention had been engrafted As yet she
was used to thinking and speaking with
all candor. She was to have her train
ing in the charms Of superfciality, but
that was to come, and when it came she
would not be an unskillful apprentice.
Perhaps the latent subtlety Of her race
came to help her natural candor at the
moment, for she said at once in a slow,
quiet tone:
II never heard my husband speak Of
you. Will you sit down."
And Mrs Armour and Marion are
not in? No, I suppose your husband
did not speak much Of his old friends. "
The attack was studied and cruel.
But Lady Haldwell had been stung by
Mrs. Armour's remark, and it piqued
her that this was possible.
'.Oh, yes, he spoke of some Of his
friends, but not Of you"
Indeed! That is strange"
"There was no necessity" said Mrs.
Armour quietly.
.'Of discussing me? I suppose not.
But by some chance"--
1T was just as well perhaps not to
anticipate the pleasure of our meeting
Lady Haldwell was surprised. She
had not expected this cleverness. They