"I never knew my parents. They died when I was a baby, and I was raised among strangers, who put up with me for the sake of the pay. Love never came my way, somehow. I suppose some folks would say that was my own fault. There was a man I could have cared for, but he didn't want me, and I married Silas for a change; to get away from the dull old life. ... You be careful who you marry, Cornelia! You're the sort of girl who does things pretty thoroughly either way; there's no middle course for you. You're bound to be either blissful or wretched. You've got enough money of your own, so you can afford to choose. Lucky girl!--Is it going to be that Captain Guest?" "Suttenly not!" Cornelia rose to her feet, and walked back to the tea- table, very stiff in the back, and pink in the cheeks. She was angry with herself for blushing, and the fact naturally made her blush the more. "I told you before that we have only met once or twice, and more'n half the time has been taken up in quarrelling. We are too different ever to run together in double harness." "Well--I'm sorry! He's got lots of frills, but he looks the right sort all the same. I'm sorry. You ought to have a good man, Cornelia." Mrs Moffatt pushed aside her half-finished cup of tea, and rose wearily to her feet. "Well, I guess I'll go and dress. We'll have some champagne for dinner, and that will perk us up for the theatre. They say it's a real good play, and we shall only be together two more nights, so I want you to have a good time. It seems mean not to ask you to stay on, but our plans are all uncertain. We may be off ourselves any time now. Silas never settles down for more than a few days." Cornelia gave the politely inaudible murmur usual on such occasions. Much as she had enjoyed the stay in town, she could not pretend to regret the prospect of returning to Norton. Later on she would make a longer visit to town, in Poppar's company, but even if the invitation were given she could not consent to remain any longer the guest of Mrs Silas P Moffatt. She was a woman whom it was impossible to respect, and to Cornelia, respect was a necessary foundation to friendship. Silas did not count! He was "a little misery," to be regarded only as an adjunct to his wife. She was even surprised to hear that he was capable of exhibiting ill-temper. In any case, it seemed to be short-lived, as dinner found him in his usual place, and then and throughout the evening he was, if anything, a trifle more animated than usual, thanking Cornelia warmly for helping his wife out of an awkward position, and regretting that in the rush to the theatre there was not time to discharge the debt forthwith. "But we must settle up after breakfast to-morrow. Short accounts make long friends!" he declared smilingly, as he helped her to put on her cloak.