He turned away from the wistful, questioning look in her eyes, and only remarked, “I shall find it hard to forgive them this.” “But I can't believe that Constance would do anything unkind,” she replied, somewhat illogically. “No. But Constance is not herself--her real self now, she is Merton's wife.” “Then you think that Constance--yes, perhaps you are right”; and then in a pathetic tone she added, “I have no friend now.” “Do not say that, Miss Affleck! Do you not remember that on the occasion of our first meeting you promised to regard me as a friend?” “Yes, I do, and I feel very grateful for your kindness to me. When I said that I meant a lady friend.... That is such a different kind of friendship. And--and you could never be like one of the two friends I have lost.” “Two, Miss Affleck! I did not know that you had had the misfortune to lose more than one.” “The first was the lady I lived with in London before I went to the Churtons'.” “Oh, yes, I see what you mean. It was a great loss to you in one sense, but of course you couldn't have the same feeling about her as in the case of Mrs. Chance. She was, I understand, a toothless old hag, more than half-crazy--” “Half-crazy! Toothless! Old! What do you mean, Mr. Eden? She is young and beautiful, and though I am nothing to her now I love her still with all my heart.” He looked at her with the utmost surprise, and then burst into a laugh. “Forgive me for laughing, Miss Affleck,” he said. “But I remember now it was Merton who described her to me as a made-up old lady who ought to be in an asylum. How stupid of me to believe anything that fellow ever says, even when he has no motive for being untruthful!” Fan also laughed, she could not help laughing in spite of the intense indignation she felt against Mary's rejected suitor for libelling her in such an infamous manner. “Do you know that it is beginning to rain?” he said, holding his umbrella over her head. “We must go in there and wait until it pauses.” It was one o'clock, and the refreshment rooms had just opened. Fan was conducted into the glittering dining-saloon, and was persuaded to join her companion in a rather sumptuous luncheon, and to drink a glass of champagne. Occasional showers prevented them leaving for some time, and it was nearly four o'clock when they finally left the Gardens, Fan again staring curiously round her. “Mr. Eden,” she asked, pointing to a large, blue, cow-like creature, with goat's horns and a hump, “will you tell me what that animal is?” “I am not sure quite that I can,” he replied with a slight laugh. “Its name is as outlandish as itself--gnu, or yak, or perhaps Jamrach.” The reply was not very satisfactory, and she felt a little disappointed that he did not turn aside to let her look at it, or at any of the other strange beasts and birds near them; but just after leaving he remarked in a casual way: “I suppose you are quite familiar with the Gardens, Miss Affleck?”