“You needn’t, then,” said Flora bluntly, as Mabel stopped short, remembering that she had not intended to make public her compact with Fitz. “His going has nothing whatever to do with you. He was chosen as the most suitable man all round, that’s all. Fred said so.” This was hardly to be borne. “I didn’t mean to tell you,” said Mabel, with dignity, “but I asked him to go, that he might make inquiries about Dick.” “Oh!” cried Flora, suddenly enlightened; “then Fred was right after all, and you have broken off your engagement. I never would have believed----” “I really don’t see why you should jump to a conclusion in that way.” “Why, because you couldn’t very well be engaged to two people at once.” “I am not engaged to anybody,” very haughtily. “Not to Mr Anstruther?” “Certainly not.” “And yet you make him run this awful risk for the sake of your brother? Oh, nonsense! he knows he will get his reward when he comes back.” “You don’t seem to understand,” coldly, “that some men are willing to do things without hope of reward. Since I have told you so much, I may as well say that if Mr Anstruther chooses to ask me to marry him when he comes back, he will do it knowing that I shall refuse him again.” “Again?” cried Flora. “Would you like to know what I think of you? Oh, I’m sure you wouldn’t, but I am going to tell you. If you happened to be plain--but no, if you were a plain woman, you wouldn’t find men to do this sort of thing for you--if you were any one but Queen Mab, people would say you were absolutely _mean_! It’s simply and solely the celebrated smile that makes you able to do these horrid things, and you presume upon it.” “Oh, don’t, please!” entreated Mabel. “That’s Dick’s word.” The tables were turned, and Flora became the criminal instead of the avenger of justice. She had seized upon one of Mabel’s dearest memories with which to taunt her, and she was silent for very shame. It tended to deepen her remorse that Mabel betrayed no anger, only a gentle forbearance that cut the accuser to the quick. “You don’t understand,” she said sadly, “and I don’t know that I understand it myself. You wouldn’t wish me to marry Fitz Anstruther if I don’t care for him, would you? and he wouldn’t wish it either. But could I lose a chance of saving Dick because of that? It’s not as if I had pretended to give him any hope. I spoke perfectly plainly, and he quite sees how it is.” “But you must care for him a little,” broke out Flora, “when he is willing to do such a thing for you without any reward. Oh, you do, don’t you?” “No,” said Mabel slowly, “I’m sure I don’t. If I did, I couldn’t have let him go.” “Oh yes,” cried Flora hopefully, “for Mrs North’s sake, and your brother’s, you could give him up.” Mabel shook her head. “I like him very much,” she said, “but I don’t want to marry him.”