"Come, my dear," said the merry little Pie, "you and I do just the same, all the time, only we don't succeed as well."
There was some natural laughter at this, but Mrs. Reid could not encourage levity on so grave a subject.
"At her time of life," she said, "still to court the society of the young and giddy—to dance and flirt as she does! Mrs. Frampton, I trust you understand that is not the stamp of woman we approve of."
"Really? Well, it is very difficult to please every one. She seems to please a great many."
"Too many! That is the trouble,"—this with an ominous shake of the head. "Men are so easily deluded!"
"She does not only charm men," said Grace, who felt it was cowardly to remain longer silent; "she can delight women also. She is the most many-sided person I have ever met—with a great deal more depth than people give her credit for."
"My! what bravery!" chuckled Miss Pie, under her breath.
"No one doubts her depth," rejoined Lady Clydesdale, sarcastically; "but every one knows you have peculiar opinions, Miss Ballinger, about conduct, both in men and women. If you like people, you defend them, no matter what they do."
"How ought I to behave when I hear you abused, Lady Clydesdale?" she asked, white with anger, for she had a premonition of what was coming.
"Time enough for that when I have done something to forfeit public esteem," she replied, with perfect coolness. "At present I trust my conduct needs no defence. Have you heard, by the bye, anything more of that terrible story about Mr. Ivor Lawrence. You knew him, I think, rather well?"