only is everything known that is to be known, but much is known that has never existed, and never will exist if not blown into being by those whose office it is to invent the grief to come; therefore he thought it wisest to keep away, lest by any chance something might drop from him which would awaken a new crowd of disquietudes in Mrs. Dennistoun’s heart. Another incident, even more disquieting than gossip, had indeed occurred to John. It had happened to him to meet Lady Mariamne at a great _omnium gatherum_ of a country house, where all sorts of people were invited, and where that lady claimed his acquaintance as one of the least alarming of the grave “set.” She not only claimed his acquaintance, but set up a sort of friendship on the ground of his relationship to Elinor, and in an unoccupied moment after dinner one day poured a great many confidences into his ear. “Isn’t it such a pity,” she said, “that Phil and she do not get on? Oh, they did at first, like a house on fire! And if she had only minded her ways they might still have been as thick---- But these little country girls, however they may disguise it at first, they all turn like that. The horridest little puritan! Phil does no more than a hundred men--than almost all men do: amuse himself with anything that throws itself in his way, don’t you know. And sometimes, perhaps, he does go rather far. I think myself he sometimes goes a little too far--for good taste you know, and that sort of thing.” It was more amazing to hear Lady Mariamne talk of good taste than anything that had ever come in John Tatham’s way before, but he was too horribly, desperately interested to see the fun. “She will go following him about wherever he goes. She oughtn’t to do that, don’t you know. She should let him take his swing, and the chances are it will bring him back all right. I’ve told her so a dozen times, but she pays no attention to me. You’re a great pal of hers. Why don’t you give her a hint? Phil’s not the sort of man to be kept in order like that. She ought to give him his head.” “I’m afraid,” said John, “it’s not a matter in which I can interfere.” “Well, some of her friends should, anyhow, and teach her a little sense. You’re a cautious man, I see,” said Lady Mariamne. “You think it’s too delicate to advise a woman who thinks herself an injured wife. I didn’t say to console her, mind you,” she said with a shriek of a laugh.