"Jane, for God's sake, go talk to her. I'm nearly dead." "All right. Go off for a walk, and get some exercise." She went to the veranda, and drew a chair near her guest. "Where's Jerry?" demanded the lady. "He's gone for a tramp." "With that Roberts girl?" "Probably," lied Jane. "I can't endure her." "She is my best friend," Jane said shortly. "Do you like it out here?" "Very much." "Must be awfully dull for Jerry." "Oh, he manages to amuse himself." "It always seems so dreadful for a great artist to be handicapped by poverty, a family, and all those things." "Most great artists have been so handicapped, I believe." "But Jerry always seems like a prince...." "Oh, were you speaking of Jerry?" "He should come into a fortune." "I believe he had the opportunity," said Jane, and regretted it the minute it was out of her mouth. "You don't like me, do you, Mrs. Paxton?" "I trust you have not found me lacking in hospitality?" "Oh, you've been hospitable enough. I suppose it is natural that you should not care for me much." "Why natural?" "Jerry and I have been together so much. I'm afraid I've kept him away from you." "That would not have anything at all to do with my liking or disliking you," said Jane, looking directly at her. "Why do you, then?" "I don't really dislike you. I'm sorry for you. It is always pitiful to be the last of a type, like a lone Indian among civilized whites." "I don't know what you're talking about." "There is a new kind of feeling among women of brains in the world to-day, a sodality. You may not have heard of it. No woman with self-respect sets herself to hurt another woman, not even to win a man they both care for. I belong to this new group, Miss Morton. That is why you are able to take advantage of my hospitality." "You fool! Don't you know Jerry cares for me?" cried Althea, sitting up, white with rage. "That doesn't interest me," replied Jane. Whereupon a miracle occurred. Miss Althea Morton threw aside the silken coverlet, swung her feet to the floor, and walked quickly into the house. CHAPTER XVIII Althea's departure was attended with some disturbance. She demanded a cab instantly, and cab stands do not grow on country roads. Jerry was taking full advantage of his freedom, and stayed away two full hours. Jane sat on, calmly sewing, where Althea had left her. "I think I must have offended Miss Morton," she said, when Jerry came in. "How?" "I found her arrogant and a trifle insulting, so I told her what I thought of her type of woman." "Ah.... Where is she?" "In her room." "But how did she get up there?" "Walked rapidly." She smiled. "Jane, you don't think the foot was a fake!" he protested. "What's the difference? It's well now." "What is she going to do?" "She demands a cab. Billy ordered one from the village." "I'd better go up to her, hadn't I?" "As you like." "After all, she is our guest." "She was the one who forgot that, Jerry."