"You haven't met one to-night."

"You mean that you're not an angel, Mrs. Almar?"

"I? Oh, I'm well and favorably known as the wickedest woman in New York.
I meant that Miss Fenimer is not an angel."

"You don't like her?"

"How you jump at conclusions! To say she isn't an angel, doesn't mean
dislike. As a matter of fact, I am eager to secure her as my
sister-in-law."

Riatt glanced at Hickson and was aware of the faintest possible pang.
What qualities, he wondered, had a man like that.

"Oh," he said, "is she engaged to your brother?"

"Certainly not," answered Mrs. Almar. "But it is fairly well understood
by every one except my brother, that if she doesn't find anything better
within the next few years she will put up with him."

At this a slight feeling of disgust for both ladies took
possession of Riatt.

"I see," he said rather coldly, and turned to Mrs. Ussher, but Nancy was
not so easily disposed of.

"You mean," she went on, "that you see it is my duty as a sister to
prevent anything else turning up. Suppose, for example, that a handsome,