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“You will, of course, give me the author of this charge.”

“You are entitled to know, I suppose,” replied Mrs. Markle. “The person who originated this report is Mrs. Grimes. And she says that she was present when the dress was sent home. That you measured it in her presence, and that, finding there were several yards over, you declared your intention to keep it and make of it a frock for your little girl. And, moreover, that she saw Julia wearing a frock afterwards, exactly like the pattern of the one you had, which she well remembers. This seems to me pretty conclusive evidence. At least it was so to my mind, and I acted accordingly.”

Mrs. Comegys sat for the full space of a minute with her eyes upon the floor, without speaking. When she looked up, the flush that had covered her face had gone. It was very pale, instead. Rising from her chair, she bowed formally, and without saying a word, withdrew.

“Ah me! Isn’t it sad?” murmured Mrs. Markle, as she heard the street door close upon her visitor. “So much that is agreeable and excellent, all dimmed by the want of principle. It seems hardly credible that a woman, with every thing she needs, could act dishonestly for so small a matter. A few yards of lawn against integrity and character! What a price to set upon virtue!”

Not more than half an hour after the departure of Mrs. Comegys, Mrs. Grimes called in to see Mrs. Markle.

“I hope,” she said, shortly after she was seated, “that you won’t say a word about what I told you a few days ago; I shouldn’t have opened my lips on the subject if you hadn’t asked me about it. I only mentioned it in the first place to a friend in whom I had the greatest confidence in the world. She has told some one, very improperly, for it was imparted to her as a secret, and in that way it has been spread abroad. I regret it exceedingly, for I would be the last person in the world to say a word to injure any one. I am particularly guarded in this.”

“If it’s the truth, Mrs. Grimes, I don’t see that you need be so anxious about keeping it a secret,” returned Mrs. Markle.

“The truth! Do you think I would utter a word that was not true?”

“I did not mean to infer that you would. I believe that what you said in regard to Mrs. Comegys was the fact.”

“It certainly was. But then, it will do no good to make a disturbance about it. What has made me call in to see you is this; some one told me that, in consequence of this matter, you had dropped the acquaintance of Mrs. Comegys.”

“It is true; I cannot associate on intimate terms with a woman who lacks honest principles.”

“But don’t you see that this will bring matters to a head, and that I shall be placed in a very awkward position?”

“You are ready to adhere to your statement in regard to Mrs. Comegys?”

“Oh, certainly; I have told nothing but the truth. But still, you can see that it will make me feel exceedingly unpleasant.”

“Things of this kind are never very agreeable, I know, Mrs. Grimes. Still we must act as we think right, let what will follow. Mrs. Comegys has already called upon me to ask an explanation of my conduct wards her.”

“She has!” Mrs. Grimes seemed sadly distressed. “What did you say to her?”

“I told her just what I had heard.”

“Did she ask your author?” Mrs. Grimes was most pale with suspense.

“She did.”

“Of course you did not mention my name.”

“She asked the author of the charge, and I named you.”

“Oh dear, Mrs. Markle! I wish you hadn’t done that. I shall be involved in a world of trouble, and the reputation of a tattler and mischief-maker. What did she say?”