MY FOURTH STAGE



Oh, the little more, and how much it is!
R. BROWING.


Mrs. Milton-Cleave had one weakness--she was possessed by an
inordinate desire for influence. This made her always eagerly
anxious to be interesting both in her conversation and in her
letters, and to this end she exerted herself with unwearying
activity. She liked influencing Mr. Blackthorne, and spared no
pains on him that afternoon; and indeed the curate was a good deal
flattered by her friendship, and considered her one of the most
clever and charming women he had ever met.

Sigismund and Gertrude returned to the ordinary world just as Mrs.
Milton-Cleave was saying good-bye to the hostess. She glanced at
them searchingly.

"Good-bye, Gertrude," she said a little coldly. "Did you win at
tennis?"

"Indeed we did," said Gertrude, smiling. "We came off with flying
colours. It was a love set."