Fortune, revenge, the world's applause, even the little child whom she had loved almost as her own, had slipped from her clasp in an hour, and left her empty-handed on the bleak shores of fate. She did not know what to do with her blank and ruined life, and her empty heart whose idols all lay shattered in the dust. So she went her way in silence, not caring to look back, not daring to look forward. For what was left to her now? Nothing but life in a world that seemed to have ended for her forever--life "more pathetic than death." So, as she turned her dim eyes away from the gallant ship that was bearing Lora so swiftly away from her native land, she said in a voice that was sadder than tears: "Let us go home, mother." And while Lora went sailing away over the blue summer sea, beneath the smiling sky of June, they turned their faces homeward. * * * * * "Aunt Egerton!" "Yes, dear," said the elegant woman of fashion, rising with a rustling of silk and lace to greet her niece. "It is I. I came early on purpose to go with you and see little Lora off, but you were already gone. I would have followed you, but they told me I should be too late. So I waited for you here." Then she rustled back to her seat again and there ensued an embarrassed silence. For this was the first time that Mrs. Egerton had crossed the threshold since the story of Xenie's revenge and its ultimate failure had become known to the carping world. She, in common with the world, had been terribly shocked by the disclosure, and had been in full accord with society when it turned its back upon its whilom beautiful favorite. Now, as she sat there in the rich arm-chair of violet velvet, with all the prestige of her rank and wealth about her, she shrank uneasily before the half-veiled scorn in the beautiful, dusky eyes of the woman who sat opposite regarding her with a cold, inquiring glance. Turning to her sister-in-law, Mrs. Carroll, she engaged her in a little desultory chat while she recovered her self-possession. "So Lora has gone on a voyage with her husband?" "Yes," Mrs. Carroll said, briefly. She was silently wondering to herself what had brought her proud sister-in-law to Xenie's house after she had, in the world's parlance, so completely "cut" her. "Is she quite happy?" continued Mrs. Egerton, patronizingly. She had a private opinion that no one could be happy in such a misalliance as Lora had made, but she forbore to air her secret views for the benefit of her auditors. "Lora is perfectly happy, I believe," was the confident answer. "Ah, I am very glad. Her story has been as romantic as a novel. I am pleased to hear that it has ended in the same happy fashion." Then she turned to Mrs. St. John. "Xenie, I expect you were surprised to find me here this morning. You must have thought----" She paused here, a little disconcerted by the steady fire of the proud, dark eyes that gravely regarded her.