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 covert hints alike failed to ater her. Mrs. Whitley she had chosen as a confidante, under the belief that she was a quiet little person who admired her. She would have been very much astonished to hear Mrs. Whitley's candid opinion.

"And how are you this morning, Mrs. Whitley?" asked Mrs. Dumaresq blandly. She was the next arrival.

"My cold is still bad, thank you," said Mrs. Whitley.

"Oh, indeed! No doubt the draught in your room increased it. All the small rooms here are draughty, as the doors and windows are opposite each other. Of course, as I have told you, when we came here we meant to stop but a very short time. I can assure you, my dear Mrs. Whitley, that to anyone who has moved in diplomatic circles, and been honoured by the gracious hospitality of royalty, a boarding-house, however well kept—and this is not without its good points—cannot fail to be objectionable. Though we meant, as I have said, to stay but a short time, I was most particular about having a good room. 'Angelo,' said I, 'let us take the best apartments in the house,' and so we did. I made a point of it. It is a