"Poor, my child, she is not, as I have every reason to believe
she is well endowed with this world's goods. Lonely she may
be, but that is her own fault. Had she behaved as she should
have done, Lady Caranby would have been her proud title. As
to dear," Mrs. Octagon shrugged her fine shoulders, "she is
not a woman to win or retain love. Look at the company she
keeps. Mr. Hale, her lawyer, is not a nice man. I have
espied something evil in his eye. That Clancy creature is
said to be rich. He needs to be, if only to compensate for
his rough way. They visit her constantly."

"You have forgotten Mrs. Herne," said Juliet, rising, and
beginning to pace the room restlessly and watch out of the
window.

"I have never met Mrs. Herne. And, indeed, you know, that for
private reasons I have never visited Selina at that ridiculous
house of hers. When were you there last, Juliet, my child?"

The girl started and appeared embarrassed. "Oh, a week ago,"
she said hurriedly, then added restlessly, "I wonder why Basil
does not come back. He has been away all day."

"Do you know why he has called on your aunt, my dear?"

"No," said Juliet, in a hesitating manner, and turned again to
look out of the window. Then she added, as though to escape
further questioning, "I have seen Mrs. Herne only once, but
she seemed to me a very nice, clever old woman."