A lull came, and she said something aloud. It seemed to her that she had forgotten words and had to make new ones--although those she spoke were old and good. With the sound of her own voice came a little courage, and enough determination to make her rise from her knees and face daylight again. Mechanically, as she continued to dress, she looked at herself in the mirror. Her features did not seem to be her own. She remembered to have seen a plaster cast from a death mask, in a museum, and her face made her think of that. There were no lines in it, but there were shadows where the lines would be some day. The grey eyes had no light in them, and scarcely seemed alive. Her colour was that of wax, and there was something unnatural in the strong black brows and lashes. The door opened at that moment, and Mrs. Lauderdale entered the room. She seemed none the worse for having danced till morning, and the freshness which had come back to her had not disappeared again. She stood still for a moment, looking at Katharine’s face as the latter turned towards her with an enquiring glance, in which there was something of fear and something of shyness. A nervous thoroughbred has the same look, if some one unexpectedly enters its box. Mrs. Lauderdale had a newspaper in her hand. “How you look, child!” she exclaimed, as she came forward. “Haven’t you slept? Or what is the matter?” She kissed Katharine affectionately, without waiting for an answer. “Well, I don’t wonder,” she added, a moment later, as though speaking to herself. “I’ve been reading this--” She paused and hesitated, as though not sure whether she should give Katharine the paper or not, and she glanced once more at the paragraph before deciding. “What is it about?” Katharine asked, in a tired voice. “Read it.” “Yes--but I ought to tell you first. You know, last night--you asked me about Jack Ralston, and I wouldn’t tell you what I had heard. Then I saw that somebody else had told you--you really ought to be more careful, dear! Everybody was noticing it.” “What?” “Why--your face! It’s of no use to advertise the fact that you are interested in Jack’s doings. They don’t seem to have been very creditable--it’s just as well that he didn’t try to come to the ball in his condition. Do you know what he was doing, late last night, just about supper-time? I’m so glad I spoke to you both the other day. Imagine the mere idea of marrying a man who gets into drunken brawls with prize fighters and is taken home by the police--” “Stop--please! Don’t talk like that!” Katharine was trembling visibly. “My dear child! It’s far better that I should tell you--it’s in the papers this morning. That sort of thing can’t be concealed, you know. The first person you meet will talk to you about it.” Katharine had turned from her and was facing the mirror, steadying herself with her hands upon the dressing table.