"I don't think I quite know what you mean by a success. Mona never commands a room. Perhaps she might if she laid herself out to do it. Every one who spoke to her seemed much interested in her conversation." This was scarcely to the point. What Lucy wanted to know was whether Mona had proved "fetching"; but Doris's serene face was not encouraging, and she dared not ask. "Mona is a fortunate being," she said. "Oh, very!" "It must be delightful to have plenty of new gowns and all sorts of pretty things." Doris looked aghast. Mona sometimes talked in this way, but then Mona was--Mona. No one could look at her face and suspect her of real frivolity; but this child ought to be careful. "It must be a great deal more delightful to be able to study medicine," she said, with a little more warmth than she intended. Lucy shrugged her shoulders. "Oh yes," she said, uncertain whether she was speaking in jest or in earnest. Then she laughed,-- "So ist es in der Welt; Der Eine hat den Beutel, Der Andere das Geld." "The fact is, our circles did not overlap much." she confided to Mona afterwards. "Our circumferences just touched somewhere about the middle of your circle." "You see, Doris is a great soul." "Ample reason, truly, why her circle should not coincide with mine. But you know, Mona, she would be a deal more satisfactory if she were a little less great, or a little small as well." "She told me you were a dear little thing, and so pretty." "_She's_ not pretty!" "Perhaps not, but she is fascinating, just because she never tries to fascinate. A man of the world said to me at that 'At Home,' that Miss Colquhoun was just the woman to drive a man over head and ears in love." "Did he really? Miss Colquhoun? How queer! What did you say?" "I cordially agreed with him." "But has she had many offers?" "She would not talk of them if she had; but you may take it as broadly true, that every man of her acquaintance is either living in hope, or has practically--I say _practically_--been rejected." "Oh, Mona, that is a large order! You see, the fact is, I am jealous of Miss Colquhoun." "My dear Pussy! Doris and I were chums before you were born." "_Raison de plus_! Look here, dear! you say things to me that you would not say to her?" "Oh yes!" "And you don't say things to her that you would not say to me?" "Oh yes!" Lucy laughed, discomfited. "I choose not to believe it," she said. Mona kissed her affectionately. "Come, that is right! With that comfortable creed for a pillow, you ought to have an excellent night." CHAPTER XXVI. A CHAT BY THE FIRE. Mona hesitated at the door of her own room, and then decided to run down for ten minutes to the sitting-room fire. She was too depressed to go to bed, and she wanted something to change the current of her thoughts. To her surprise, she found Mr Reynolds still in his large arm-chair, apparently lost in thought.