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208 "I think it fits," she replied.

"Moreover," continued Miss Chichester, her temper rising with every word, "a scheme like Mr. Farrar's, that encourages people of no standing whatever to attempt to break into good society, and to seek companionship with our best young men, is a scheme that ought to be crushed."

It was perfectly apparent that after that declaration no entente cordiale could be either established or maintained among the three women present. Ruth looked worried, Mrs. Bradley bit her lip and did not answer, and Miss Chichester, after a moment of uncertainty, rose to go. She turned to Ruth.

"I'm so sorry for you, dear," she said, "even if it is all your own fault. I know how to sympathize with you, because my own heart is almost broken."

She gave her eyes a dab or two with her handkerchief, said good-bye to Ruth, ignored Mrs. Bradley, and departed.

"I'm extremely sorry," said the remaining guest, when the door had closed behind the first visitor, "to have come here and made trouble."

"Oh," replied Ruth, "I don't mind Miss Chichester. I have always known her. What worries me is that you may have taken her too seriously. You don't know, as I do, that her heart is so much better than her tongue."

"I think most people are really better than they seem. But Miss Chichester appears to have a deep personal grievance against me. I have heard of it before this. I don't fully understand it."

"Jane thinks you are trenching on her preserves."

"In the matter of Barry Malleson?"

"I believe so."

"Is she engaged to be married to him?"

"She says she is not, but she thinks she might be if it were not for your alluring influence over him."

Mrs. Bradley laughed a little before she replied.