The words were calm and conventional; there was no heart in them. Jaquelina felt it vaguely; but she laid her hands in Violet's, kindly, and would have kissed her, only Miss Earle did not offer her lips. Then Violet looked around at her brother with a charming smile. "I came alone that I might have a quiet chat with our old friend," she said, "and I dare say you have finished your call; so you may just take yourself off, Walter." Walter looked uneasy, but her careless gaiety disarmed his vague dread. He went up to Jaquelina and held out his hand. "I must give way to Violet this time," he said, "but I will call again to-morrow and continue our interrupted conversation, if you will permit me." Jaquelina turned courteously to her guest, who had thrown herself wearily into a cushioned chair. "I hope your mamma is well, Miss Earle," she said, gently, thinking of the faded little lady who had always been so kind. Violet looked surprised and pained. "Did not Walter tell you?" she cried. "Oh, Lina, mamma is dead!" "Dead!" cried Jaquelina, and the quick tears sprang into her eyes. "I am sorry. No one had told me of it. How long is it, Violet?" "Almost three years now," answered Violet, sadly: "She died the winter you went away. I--I do not like to recall it. I was away at the time, visiting the Valchesters in Richmond. It was very, very sudden. She had disease of the heart." "I am so sorry," Jaquelina repeated, sorrowfully. "I loved her dearly. She was always kind to me." "Yes, mamma loved you dearly," said Violet, gravely; "yet you disappointed her dearest hope, Lina." "Her dearest hope!" cried Jaquelina. "I do not understand you, Violet." "She wished above everything, for you to have become Walter's wife," exclaimed Violet. The beautiful singer colored deeply, but she did not reply. "We all wished it," continued Violet. "It would have pleased me very much. I cannot tell you what a disappointment it was to us all when you chose Valchester--a disappointment and a surprise as well. The match seemed so unsuitable." Jaquelina lifted her dark eyes and regarded her gravely. "Why unsuitable?" she asked. "Oh, I could hardly explain it," answered Violet, vaguely, "but it struck us all that way. Ronald Valchester was so very peculiar. You must have thought so yourself after you learned his strange views of marriage and divorce. Did you not, dear?" Jaquelina sat silent, her hands tightly clasped in her lap. "Ronald is so very, very proud," went on Violet, after a moment. "He was too proud to marry a woman who had been married to Gerald Huntington; so he invented that excuse to break with you." "Miss Earle, I believe your views do injustice to Mr. Valchester," Jaquelina answered, with grave, sad dignity. "I am willing to admit that his views are peculiar, but I am quite, quite sure that he only acted in accordance with his honest convictions of duty." An irrepressible sneer of scorn rose to Violet's lips.