She ignored the question about Muriel and got up idly to look at the paper. After a few minutes it fell on her lap, and she gazed with wide-open eyes straight in front of her. In print, so that all the world could see, ran an announcement of a severe hunting accident to Captain Hurstly of the ——, with the addition that Miss Dallerton, his _fiancée_, and her uncle were soon to be on their way out to India to join him. It was thought probable that in the event of Captain Hurstly’s recovery the young couple would be married out there. Gladys watched with fascinated gaze the skilful movements of the footmen removing tea. She never forgot the delicate traced pattern on the cloth, or the two muffins and a half. She carefully counted and wondered, with an interest out of proportion to its subject, what would eventually be their fate. It did not surprise her that Edith le Mentier should be announced, and she found herself smiling quite naturally at that lady’s little graceful poses, when suddenly she heard herself addressed by name. “Have you heard of Muriel Dallerton’s great _coup_? My dear child, you really should go in for slum clubs—they’re so taking. I should do it myself if I could ever think of anything to say to those kind of creatures. And then one finds out that she’s been all the time engaged to Jack Hurstly, and is actually going out to India to nurse him through an accident and pull him safely into the bonds of matrimony. If I were a yellow journalist I could make the most touching headlines for it—‘Death or Marriage?’ ‘If he survives the first accident, will he survive the second?’ etc.” Gladys laughed. “But, Mrs. le Mentier,” she said, “perhaps it’s not so inevitable as all that. Mary was telling me she had been engaged before.” There was a moment’s silence. Mrs. Huntly looked sharply across at her friend, and Edith subdued a smile. She could not resist, however, a little shot. “Once upon a time there was a naughty boy,” she said, “so Muriel put him in the corner, and he ran away. Isn’t that true, Mary?” The door opened and two maiden ladies, who were very charitable and rather plain, took up Mrs. Huntly’s attention. Gladys drew Edith to the window. “Is Captain Hurstly a good boy?” she said, smiling. Edith looked down at her caressingly. “One’s always good if one isn’t found out,” she said. “But if one is found out, one is much worse,” persisted Gladys. “I don’t think Muriel ever cared for Alec Bruce,” said Mrs. le Mentier. “Why, don’t you wish her to marry Jack?” she added, glancing at the girl tenderly. “I’m so sorry for the doctor,” smiled Gladys. “If Muriel knew,” Gladys continued, “that he was not such a good boy, she would be certain to put him in the corner even longer, because she does care for him.” “If she sees him now while he’s ill she’ll give in. We all do when Nature takes it into her head to punish,” mused Mrs. le Mentier.