come. You know her holidays have begun now."

"It is a good thing for that girl," said Miss Rawlinson, in her quick,
_staccato_ fashion, "that she has few holidays. Very good thing she has
her work to mind. The way people run after her would turn any woman's
head. The Grand D---- is said to have declared that she was one of the
three prettiest women he saw in England: what can you expect if things
like that get to a girl's ears?"

"But you know Gerty is quite unspoiled," said Mrs. Ross, warmly.

"Yes, so far," said the old lady, "So far she retains the courtesy of
being hypocritical."

"Oh, Miss Rawlinson, I won't have you say such things of Gerty White!"
Mrs. Ross protested. "You are a wicked old woman--isn't she Hugh?"

"I am saying it to her credit," continued the old lady, with much
composure. "What I say is, that most pretty women who are much run after
are flattered into frankness. When they are introduced to you, they
don't take the trouble to conceal that they are quite indifferent to
you. A plain woman will be decently civil, and will smile, and pretend
she is pleased. A beauty--a recognized beauty--doesn't take the trouble
to be hypocritical. Now Miss White does."

"It is an odd sort of compliment," said Colonel Ross, laughing. "What do
you think of it Macleod?"

"These are too great refinements for my comprehension," said he,
modestly. "I think if a pretty woman is uncivil to you, it is easy for