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 confidences are alike—they had better not be given. By the way, she's back, you know."

"Have you seen her?" she asked, with assumed indifference, stretching her little trap.

"Of course. I went last night as soon as I knew where she was. She is one of my oldest and best friends, that rara avis, a woman-chum."

"She is a dear. She was here a few moments ago. If you had come a little earlier you would have been rewarded."

"By finding you two discussing the latest Parisian novelties, and having no satisfaction out of either of you."

"You see we are so intimate," she smiled. "She came over at once to see me; wasn't it dear of her?" She hoped Victoria would not by any chance mention the fact that Philippa, having seen her from the window, had sent the butler to stop her and insist on her dropping in for a moment. However, even if she did, it didn't amount to much. Philippa argued to herself that the more praise she lavished on her rival, the more would any derogatory remark of Victoria's concerning herself sound ungrateful and 85