, 1899-03-31
NMeDuchess
XVI.


better So"
The scene is the Court, and the guests
have. Just left the dinner table.
81 don't think / understand you" say'
Lady Baltimore, who has grown very
white. Her tone is naughty; she has
drawn back a little as if to escape from
contact with the other.
"Ahi That is so like you" says Lady
Swansdown with a rather fierce little
laugh. "You pretent, pretend, pretend
from morning till night. You intrencn
yourself behind our pride, and
"You know what you are doing, bea'
trice," says Lady Baltimore, ignoring this
outburst completely, and speaking III q
calm, level tone, yet with a face like mar
BILE.
eyes, and you know, too" says Lady
Syansdown. Then, with an oyerwhelm'
ing vehemence: why don't you do some,
thing? Why don't you assert yourselff"
81 shall never assert myself" says Lady
Baltimore, slowly.
"You mean that whatever comes you
will not interfere"
''That exactlyp turning her eyes full on
10 the others face with a terrible disdain
81 shall never interfere in this-or any
other of his dirtations!'
1t is a sharp stabi Lady Swansdowr
winces yisibly.
'What a woman you are!' cries she
slave you ever thought of it., Isabel
You are unjust to h~im-unfair. YOU
possionately-"treat him as though he
were the dust beneath your feet, and YET
you expect him to remain immaculate, fol
your sake-pure as any acolyte-a thine
of Ice"
"No," coldly. "You mistake me. ]
know too much of him to expect perfec'
tion-nay, common decency from him
But you-it was you whom hoped to find
immaculate"
"You expect too much, then. One ice
berg In our midst is enough and that you
Axe kiz6y-rEr~ -ourprr-
son. Put me out Of lssion alto
gether."
"Ahl you have made that impossible! :
cannot do that. | have known you too
long. l have liked you too well. l have"
with a swift but terrible glance at her,
flowed your
Isabel"
mo. mol! Not a word. 1t is too late
nowg'
''True,' says Lady Swansdown, bring.
ing back the arms she had extended and
letting them fall with a sudden dull vehe.
mence to her sides. Her agitation is UNI
controlled, ''That was so long ago that,
mo doubt, you have forgotten all about it.
You," bitterly, "have forgotten a good
deal.'
"And you" says Lady Baltimore, very
calmly. what have you not forgotten
your self-respect," deliberately, "among
other things"
"Take care, take care!' says Lady
gwansdown, in a low tone. She has turn
ed furiously.
"Why should l take care?" She throws
up her small head scornfully. Have
said one word too much?"
''Too much, indeed says Lady Swans
down, distinctly, but family. h turns
her head, but not her eyes, in Isabers di.
r~eetion. Pm afraid you will have to en-
dure for one day longer" she says in 8
low voice; after that you shall bid me g
farewell forever"
"You have come to a wise decision
says Lady Baltimore, ~immoyably.
There is something so eontemptuous In
her whole bearing that it maddens the
ether.
"How dare you speak to me like thatT'
cries she, with sudden violence not to be
repressed. "You of all others! Do you
think you are not in fault at all-that you
stand blameless before the worldT'
The blood has famed into her pale
cheeks, her eyes are on fire. She ad-
yances toward Lady Baltimore with such
a passion of angry despair in look and
tone that ~involuntarily the latter retreats
before her.
HWho shall blame me?' demands Lady
Baltimore, haughtily.
IL for one! Icicle that you are, how
can you know what love means? You
have no heart to feel, no longing to for,
give. And what has he done to you
Nothing-nothing that any other woman
would not gladly condone."
"You are a partisan" says Lady Balti.
more, coldly. you would plead his cause
and to me! You are violent, but hat does
not put you in the right. What do you
know of Baltimore that l do not know
BY what right do you defend him y
There is such a thing as friendshipl'
is thcre?" says the other with deer
meaning. us there, Beatrice? Oh! think
think" A little bitter smile curls the
corners of her lips. ''That you should ad-
yOcate the cause of friendship to me" says
she, her words falling with cruel scorp
one by one slowly from her lips.
"You think me false" says Lady
Swansdown. She is terribly agitated.
There was an old friendship between us
Il know that-I feel it. You think me
altogether false to itY'
Il think of you as little as | can help"
says Isabel, contemptuously. why should
! waste a thought on your
@DTrue! Why, indeed! One so capable
Of controlling her emotions as you are
need never give way to superfuous OF
useless thoughts. Still, give one to Balti
more. 1t is our last conversation togeth
er, therefore bear with me-hear me. Al
his sins lie in the past. He"
You must be mad to talk to me like
this." interrupts Isabel. flushing crimson
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