The Press., 1894-10-18

talked casually for little time, the visitor trying in vain to delicately give the conversation personal turn. At last, little foolishly, she grew bolder, with needless selfishness.
 ''So old friend of your husband as I am, am hopeful you and I may be friends also. :"
 Mrs Armour saw the move. "You are very kind," she said conventionally and offered a cup of tea.
 Lady Haldwell now ventured unwise- ly. She was nettled at the others self possession. "But then in way have been your friend for long time, Mrs. Armour.
 The point was yelled in Q vague tone, but Mrs. Armour understood. Her reply was not wanting:
 Any one who has been a friend to my husband has naturally claims upon me-"
 Lady Haldwell, ill spite of herself, chafed. There was a subtlety ill the woman before her not to be reckoned with lightly.
 "And if an enemy?'' she said, smil- ing
 A strange smile also flickered across Mrs. Armour's face as she said, "If an enemy of my husband called and was penitent, I should-offer her tea, no doubt. ''
 ''That is, in this country, but in your own country, which, believe, is differ ent, what would you do?'
 Mrs. Armour looked steadily and coldly into her visitors eyes. ''In my country enemies do not compel us to be polite
 By calling on you?" Lady Haldwell was growing a little reckless. But then that is savage country. We are different here. suppose, however, your husband told you of these things, so that you were not surprised. And when does he come? His stay is protracted. Let me see, how long Is 1t? An, yes, near four years. ' Here she became alto gether reckless, which she regretted afterward, for she knew after all what was due herself "'He will come back, suppose. "
 Lady Haldwell was no coward, else she had hesitated before speaking in that way before this woman, in whose blood was the wildness of the heroical north. Perhaps she guessed the passion in Lali's breast, perhaps not. In any case she would have said what she list ed at the moment.
 Wild as were the passions in Lali's breast, she thought on the instant of her child, of what Richard Armour would say, for he had often talked to her about not showing her emotions and passions, had told her that violence of all kinds was not wise or proper. Her fingers ached to grasp this beautiful, exasperating woman by the throat. But after an effort at calmness she remained still and silent, looking at her visitor with a scornful dignity. Lady Haldwell presently rose. She could not endure the furnace of that look, and said good by. She turned toward the door. Mrs. Armour remained immovable At that instant, however, some one stepped from behind large screen just inside the door. It was Richard Armour. He was pale, and on his face was @ sternness the like of which this and perhaps only one other wonan had ever seen on him. He interrupted her.
 ''Lady Haldwell has fine talent for irony" he said, "but she does not al- ways use it wisely. In man it would bear another name, and from man it would be differently received" He came close to her. You are a brave woman," he said, "or you would have been more careful. Of course you knew that my mother and sister were not at home"
 She smiled languidly. And why sof course?'
 T do not know that. Only know that I think so, and I also think that my brother Franks worst misfortune did not occur when Miss Julia Sher- wood trafficked without compunction ia his happiness.
 Don't be oracular, my dear Richard Armour,' she said "You are trying really. This seems almost melodramat- ic, and melodrama is bad enough in Drury lane. :"
 "You are not good friend even to yourself" he answered.
 "What discoverer you are And how much ill earnest Do come back to Guo WOTIu, NIT. AIuOuE. 4Ou WOulu D0 a relief, 8 new sensation"
 II fancy shall come back if only to see the engineer hoist with his own torpedo"
 He paused before the last word to give it point, for her husbands father had made his money out of torpedoes She felt the sting ill spite of her, and she saw the point And then we will talk it over at the end of the season." he added, land compare notes Good afternoon.
 "You stake much on your hazards, !" she said, glancing back at Lali, who still stood immovable. "Au revoir!''
 She left the room. Richard heard the
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