had telephoned to Barbara that a friend, whom she hadn't expected till the following day, was arriving that evening. Would it be convenient to bring her along to the dinner? All Mrs. Hollister knew about the girl was her last name—Miss Oliver. She had tucked her in at the table as far away as possible from Vincent, for she was afraid that there might not be an opportunity to caution her. And now the unfortunate coincident of Vincent's entering the drawing-room from the library, instead of through the hall, had caught him with this unknown young person, who chanced to be seated alone in the window-seat by the library door.
Vincent had hesitated before speaking to the young lady. He didn't even know her name, hadn't caught it when Alice Farnum blew in with her at the last moment. Young ladies alone in corners he avoided, these days, whenever possible. He recalled his threat to his mother. However he was making an effort for her sake to be civil to-night (though she was quite unaware of it) and it would not have been civil to have passed on without a word to the stranger.
So he said, "You're very exclusive." The other women were grouped together in the middle of the room by the fireplace.
"Yes," she agreed briefly, looking up from a
