"Nothing." Azalia Brooke looked up at her with artless cordiality. "Was it not dreadful, spoiling Mrs. Stanley's beautiful set that way? Won't you go with me to-morrow, Miss Fielding, and try to match it?" she asked. "Do you know, I was so interested in what Mr. Meredith was telling, I forgot I had it in my hand, and it fell. It seems he has been a student at one of those delightful German universities. He was telling me how much his father wished it before his death, nearly three years ago." Was there a strange, hidden meaning in the blue eyes that met Jewel's? Was there a menace in the distinct voice? Jewel quailed for a moment, fancying these things, and her rival saw her turn pale and tremble. But it was Jewel's turn now. "Laurie, will you take me home now? I have another engagement," she said. They bowed and went away from the presence of the young beauty. On the way home Jewel betrayed her petulant jealousy plainly. "You promised me not to fall in love with that girl, Laurie." "Did your 'other engagement' mean that you wanted to bring me away to scold me?" he asked, frowning. "You are in love with her, Laurie!" angrily. "You are jealous," he retorted; and Jewel took refuge in tears, while her betrothed relapsed into offended silence. Seeing this, Jewel realized that she was going too far, begged his pardon for her folly, and riveted her chains more firmly than ever. They parted affectionately, and when he had gone, she muttered: "Could she have escaped? I must satisfy myself, much as I dread it, for to-night I could have sworn that Flower's voice spoke to me with a hidden threat in its tone. Oh, I wish I were safely married and away on my bridal-tour!" She crept to the door of the deserted cellar, unclosed it, peered into the darkness with dilated eyes. She heard great rats plunging about, saw the noisome water standing, green and stagnant, several feet deep, and a large blank water-proof cloak floating on the top. "She is there still. It was my guilty fancy that made me clothe Azalia Brooke with Flower's soul!" she shuddered, as she fled back to her room. * * * * * Meanwhile, Azalia Brooke had pleaded another engagement, too, and returned home. She flung herself upon the floor, sobbing miserably: "It is he, my own darling; but Jewel has taken him from me. It was his father's death she showed me in the paper. Perhaps they planned it together, thinking that the shock would kill me." Then she lay for some time, still and unconscious. CHAPTER XXXVII. Laurie Meredith found himself in a terrible dilemma. He had thought that he was quite safe in pledging himself to Jewel Fielding, being perfectly sure that he could never love again as he had loved his lost Flower. But suddenly, and almost hopelessly, it seemed, he found himself most passionately in love with Lord Ivon's great-granddaughter, the proud English beauty.