"Couldn't learn any of the particulars, only that he took his wife
from a gentleman's arm in a rude kind of way, and left the party."

"Oh! that accounts for their not coming home in a carriage," broke
in one of the listeners.

"Perhaps so. But who said they didn't ride home?"

"Mr. Craig. He and Mrs. Craig saw them as they came to the door,
covered with snow. They were walking."

"Oh, you were at the party, Mr. Craig? Did you see or hear anything
about this affair?"

"Nothing," replied Mr. Craig. "If there had been any trouble, I
should most likely have heard something of it."

"I had my information from a gentleman who was there," said the
other.

"I don't question that," replied Mr. Craig. "A trifling incident but
half understood will often give rise to exaggerated reports--so
exaggerated that but little of the original truth remains in them.
The general may have done something under the excitement of wine
that gave color to the story now in circulation. I think that very
possible. But I don't believe the affair to be half so bad as
represented."

While this conversation was going on Mrs. Abercrombie sat alone in