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friendship for a young and pretty girl like you. I’m inclined to sympathize a little with her. You’re far too good-looking and attractive to be a governess in a country house, you know.”

Ann looked a little hurt.

“Oh, I’m not saying you gave her any cause for jealousy,” went on Ford, “but it’s hard for a woman to be continually reminded of her lost youth, and Vera Holmes is a bit passé herself.”

“Oh, no!” said Ann indignantly. “She’s wonderfully handsome.”

“Handsome is as handsome does, and she hasn’t ‘done’ very handsomely.”

“We’re going to forget about that now,” answered Ann.

“Yes—and we’ve got to see that every one else forgets it too. As a matter of fact, now that Dick and his wife are together again at Tirau there won’t be many people who will believe that divorce was ever even contemplated. As far as I can make out the gossip was started by young Marshall—Philip Marshall—in Miller’s office; and as Marshall has the reputation of a—well—an embroiderer—the majority of those who heard the story will decide that it was merely another of Marshall’s sensational yarns. I’ll have a talk to Miller myself. He’ll settle Marshall. Now don’t you worry any more about it. How’s business?”

“Booming.”

“That’s good. You’re off to the steeplechase meeting today I suppose?”

“No . . . I don’t think so.”

“Why not? Your shop isn’t open, is it?”

“No, but . . . well you see, Mrs. Ford did ask me to