"You--you used to like Joe, Rachael," she said, after a moment, in
a low tone.

"I don't dislike him now," Rachael said composedly.

"He's awfully kind--and--and good, and Lucy never understood him,
or tried to understand him!" said Billy in a burst. The other
woman smiled.

"If Joe Pickering told you any sentimental nonsense like that,
kindly don't retail it to me," she said amusedly.

In a second Billy was roused to utter fury. Her cheeks blazed, her
breath came short and deep. "I hate you!" she said passionately,
and ran from the room.

Mrs. Breckenridge sat still for a few moments, but there was no
emotion but utter weariness visible in her face. After a while she
said, "Oh, Lord!" in a tone compounded of amusement and disgust,
and rising, she took a new book from the table, and went slowly
downstairs.

In the lower hall Alfred met her, his fat young face duly
mysterious and important in expression.

"Mr. Breckenridge got a telephone message from Doctor Jordan, Mrs.
Breckenridge; the doctor's been called into town to a patient, so
he can't see Mr. Breckenridge to-night."