Athena moved swiftly after her, and with a gentle violence put her soft arms round Jane and pillowed the girl's head on her breast. "Jane!" she whispered, "do forgive me--I understand, indeed I do! But--but the sight of your happiness makes me a little bitter. Richard has been worse than ever this time. And Dick has been--well, Dick at his very worst. I can't think why he dislikes me so--but to be sure I have never liked him either!" Jane heard her in troubled silence. Her feelings of restful happiness, of exquisite content, had gone. "I'm sure that General Lingard must have noticed Richard's extraordinary manner to me," Athena spoke musingly. "Has he said anything about it in any of his letters to you?" "No, never." Jane released herself from Mrs. Maule's circling arms. "I like your man so much," went on Athena, stroking Jane's hair, "so very, very much! I think I like him more than I ever thought to like a man again. But then he's so unlike most men, Jane." Jane did not need Athena's words to convince her that Hew Lingard was unlike other men. But still her friend's words touched and pleased her. "He's been so awful good to me these last ten days! He's made everything easier. Fortunately Richard took a great fancy to him. And he and I--I know you won't be jealous, Jane--have become true friends. When Dick isn't looking, we call each other Hew and Athena!" "I am so glad," said Jane in a low voice; and indeed she was glad that the two had "made friends." But again she was touched with vague discomfort, again she shrank, when Mrs. Maule, leading her back into the room, rained eager, insistent questions on her---- "Do tell me all about it! How did it all begin? How did you ever come to know each other so well before he went away? What made him first write to you? Were they love letters, Jane? Come, of course you must know whether they were love letters or not! You're not so simple as all that comes to--no woman ever is!" But at last, driven at bay, her heart bruised by the other's indelicate curiosity, Jane said slowly, "I dare say I'm foolish--but I would rather not talk about it, Athena." A look of deep offence passed over Mrs. Maule's face. Later on--much later on--Jane wondered whether she had been wrong in saying those few words--words said feelingly, apologetically. "Of course we won't speak of your engagement if you would rather not. I'm sorry. I had no idea you would mind. I must go and dress now. But just one word more, Jane. Of course you and General Lingard will like to be a good deal alone together--I'll give Dick a hint." "No, no!" cried Jane. "Please don't do that, Athena. I don't want anything of the sort said to Dick." But Mrs. Maule went on as if she had not heard the other's words, "And you can always sit together in my boudoir. Mrs. Pache was saying to-day that it was a pity I didn't use the drawing-room more than I do. She thought--it was so like an Englishwoman to say so--that it smelt damp!"