"I am so sorry, dear," she faltered. "Another time, perhaps, but now I must go home." Miss Stuart started up, loosening her fur boa impatiently. "That is absolute folly. There is nothing to stand in the way unless----" She broke off abruptly, and her eyes searched Helen's downcast face. "Do you want to put an end to our friendship," she cried sharply. "Is that why you act so strangely?" Helen lifted her hand with an imploring gesture of dissent. "Answer me, Helen. Am I not right?" Helen's head was bent still lower, and she made no attempt to speak. Miss Stuart watched her for a moment in silence, and a slight quiver passed over her face. She came a step nearer, and laid her hand on the girl's shoulder: "Who has influenced you against me, Helen? What has happened?" "Why, Lillian, what makes you say that? It is not fair, simply because in one instance I am unable to fulfill your wishes." Miss Stuart withdrew her hand, and her brow darkened. "Helen, Helen; you disappoint me. Let us have the truth at all hazards. Tell me frankly, would not your answer always be the same now, whenever I might ask you for a visit?" Helen shivered a little, and she could not bring herself to meet the girl's eyes. Presently Miss Stuart spoke again, the effort to subdue all emotion rendering her voice cold and stern. "I understand. You have withdrawn your friendship from me. Oh! no doubt you have discovered the depth of my unworthiness, and feel perfectly justified. Content in your own moral superiority, and in that of your friends in general, you have decided that it would be wiser to banish me from the inner circle. Of course," she went on with a bitter laugh, "you have not reached this conclusion alone. Would you mind telling me who has helped you to it?" The taunting question stung Helen into a response: "You told me an untruth, Lillian. You deliberately deceived me. You caused untold suffering to one who is very dear to me, to what end I cannot imagine. And this was your return for all the love and trust I had given you." Miss Stuart turned a startled glance on Helen. "What do you mean?" she asked breathlessly. "I have seen Mr. Farr to-day, and a good many things that have puzzled me have been made clear. I am not judging you, Lillian. I am completely in the dark as to your motives. I only know that you were not honest with me." "So you have seen Val Farr," murmured Miss Stuart. She flung back her head defiantly. "Well, what did he tell you of me? I thought he was too much of a man to speak ill of a woman." "Your name was never mentioned, Lillian. I am not prepared to tell you what Mr. Farr said to me. Suffice it to say, it proved the untruth of what you led me to believe last summer." Miss Stuart caught her breath. "I suppose that means that he is in love with your sister?" "We will not discuss that, please," replied Helen with quiet dignity. Her companion laughed, but there was no mirth in the sound.