"I shall never assert myself," says Lady Baltimore slowly. "You mean that whatever comes you will not interfere." "That, exactly!" turning her eyes full on to the other's face with a terrible disdain. "I shall never interfere in this--or any other of his flirtations." It is a sharp stab! Lady Swansdown winces visibly. "What a woman you are!" cries she. "Have you ever thought of it, Isabel? You are unjust to him--unfair. You"--passionately--"treat him as though he were the dust beneath your feet, and yet you expect him to remain immaculate, for your sake--pure as any acolyte--a thing of ice----" "No," coldly. "You mistake me. I know too much of him to expect perfection--nay, common decency from him. But you--it was you whom I hoped to find immaculate." "You expected too much, then. One iceberg in your midst is enough, and that you have kindly suggested in your own person. Put me out of the discussion altogether." "Ah I You have made that impossible! I cannot do that. I have known you too long, I have liked you too well. I have," with a swift, but terrible glance at her, "loved you!" "Isabel!" "No, no! Not a word. It is too late now." "True," says Lady. Swansdown, bringing back the arms she had extended and letting them fall into a sudden, dull vehemence to her sides. Her agitation is uncontrolled. "That was so long ago that, no 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 Swansdown in a low tone. She has turned furiously upon her. "Why should I take care?" She throws up her small bead scornfully. "Have I said one word too much?"? "Too much indeed," says Lady Swansdown distinctly, but faintly. She turns her head, but not her eyes in Isabel's direction. "I'm afraid you will have to endure for one day longer," she says in a low voice; "after that you shall bid me a farewell that shall last forever!" "You have come to a wise decision," says Lady Baltimore, immovably. There is something so contemptuous in her whole bearing that it maddens the other. "How dare you speak to me like that," 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 world?" The blood has flamed into her pale cheeks, her eyes are on fire. She advances toward Lady Baltimore with such a passion of angry despair in look and tone, that involuntarily the latter retreats before her. "Who shall blame me?" demands Lady Baltimore haughtily. "I--I for one! Icicle that you are, how can you know what love means? You have no heart to feel, no longing to forgive. And what has he done to you? Nothing--nothing that any other woman would not gladly condone."