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Mrs. Langham noted that Patricia had ceased her work, although she still stooped over the packing-case.

“I regard Mrs. Harley as one of the most charming young women I have ever been privileged to meet,” said Mrs. Langham, raising her voice somewhat. “The Harleys are neighbours of ours, you know. It is very sad.”

“My husband tells me that he rushed off to Napier on Tuesday night,” said the first old friend. “What a terrible shock it must have been to find them both—like that. A sensitive man, such as he must be———”

“Of course, it must have been an awful blow, my dear,” agreed Mrs. Langham, “especially under the circumstances.”

The significance of the latter words did not go unnoticed, and although Mrs. Langham had her back turned, she knew that Patricia had raised her head.

The old friends drew closer together.

“There have been rumours that the Harleys were not altogether happy,” said one insinuatingly.

Mrs. Langham shrugged her shoulders non-committally and was silent.

“Wasn’t there some talk of another woman?” asked another.

“S-sh!”

Mrs. Langham’s sibilant caution could have been heard in the next room, and her cautious nod directed the gaze of her old friends over her shoulder.

The old friends shot startled glances in the direction of Patricia as comprehension came to them. Then they became excessively busy as they saw that the girl had straightened and was approaching with a curious expression upon her white and drawn face.

Mrs. Langham, happy but somewhat apprehensive, continued her task of folding clothes in pretended ignorance of the girl’s approach. She was