"Or marrying," said Mrs. Fane calmly--"yes. That is what I mean." "Suppose I do neither. I have my own money. I might go and live with Gerty Baldwin." "You might," assented the elder sister, "if you like to live in a pig-sty with that lymphatic woman, who is more like a jelly than a human being." "There's no harm in her," protested Laura. "Nor is there in a pig. But I don't care to live with a pig. As to Gerty Baldwin, she is a fast young minx, engaged to a vulgarian." "Mr. Tracey is a kindhearted man." "But vulgar. And Gerty?" "The dearest girl in the world." Mrs. Fane again lifted her eyebrows. "I confess I don't care for people of that sort." "Do you care for any one but yourself?" asked Laura bitterly. "I care for Minnie, and a little for Walter," said Mrs. Fane, "but the ordinary human being does not seem worthy of being liked." "You condemn the world as though you were its judge and not its denizen," said Laura, with a curled lip and flashing eyes. "Julia, you were always a hard woman. Your nature is like our father's." "Quite so, and for that reason he left me most of the money. You and Frederick take after our late mother. A kind woman, but so weak! Oh, dear me," sighed Mrs. Fane; "how very weak!" "Laura felt inclined to walk out of the room. But she knew that such behaviour would result in nothing. Mrs. Fane would show no anger, but would simply attack Laura on the subject uppermost in her mind when they again met. The subject was Laura's future, so the girl thought it best to bring the matter to an issue. "Does all this mean that you withdraw your opposition to my marriage with Arnold?" "No. I still think the match is a bad one. But if you are determined to commit social suicide, I will not hinder you. Down at Westcliff I considered the matter, and resolved to tell you this when I returned. Of course this murder brings the matter still more to the front, since it makes us give up the villa. You must decide whether to come with us, or to marry Mr. Calvert, and take your own life on your own shoulders." "We can settle that later. When do you go?" "In three or four months. We have to get rid of the lease of the villa, you see, and there are other things to be considered. Have you accepted Mr. Calvert's hand?" "Yes. We are engaged." Mrs. Fane shrugged her ample shoulders. "Fancy marrying an actor, and a mediocre actor at that! Why, the man can't keep you." "I have money enough for us both." "Oh, I am quite sure that he will live on you, my dear. Why hasn't he been to see you lately?" Laura rose to her feet. "Because I asked him not to come," she said distinctly. "You have been so disagreeable to him that, for the sake of peace, I thought it best he should not visit me." "You saw him when you were at the Baldwins'?" "Several times." "Oh indeed!" sneered Mrs. Fane; "and when do you marry?" "When we choose. Arnold is an actor and----" "A perfect stick," said Mrs. Fane derisively.