* * * * *

Wickersham, on finding his attempt at explanation to Mrs. Wentworth received with coldness, turned his attentions in another direction.  It was necessary.  His affairs had all gone wrong of late.  He had seen his great fortune disappear under his hands.  Men who had not half his ability were succeeding where he had failed.  Men who once followed him now held aloof, and refused to be drawn into his most tempting schemes.  His enemies were working against him.  He would overthrow them yet.  Norman Wentworth and Gordon Keith especially he hated.

He began to try his fortune with Mrs. Lancaster again.  Now, if ever, appeared a good time.  She was indifferent to every man—­unless she cared for Keith.  He had sometimes thought she might; but he did not believe it.  Keith, of course, would like to marry her; but Wickersham did not believe Keith stood any chance.  Though she had refused Wickersham, she had never shown any one else any special favor.  He would try new tactics and bear her off before she knew it.  He began with a dash.  He was quite a different man from what he had been.  He even was seen in church, turning on Rimmon a sphinx-like face that a little disconcerted that eloquent person.

Mrs. Lancaster received him with the serene and unruffled indifference with which she received all her admirers, and there were many.  She treated him, however, with the easy indulgence with which old friends are likely to be treated for old times’ sake; and Wickersham was deceived.  Fortune appeared suddenly to smile on him again.  Hope sprang up once more.

Mrs. Nailor one day met Lois, and informed her that Mr. Wickersham was now a rival of Mr. Keith’s with Mrs. Lancaster, and, what was more, that Norman Wentworth had learned that it was not Wickersham at all, but Mr. Keith who had really caused the trouble between Norman and his wife.

Lois was aghast.  She denied vehemently that it was true; but Mrs. Nailor received her denial with amused indulgence.

“Oh, every one knows it,” she said.  “Mr. Keith long ago cut Fredy out; and Norman knows it.”

Lois went home in a maze.  This, then, explained why Mr. Keith had suddenly stopped coming to the house.  When he had met her he had appeared as glad as ever to see her, but he had also appeared constrained.  He had begun to talk of going away.  He was almost the only man in New York that she could call her friend.  To think of New York without him made her lonely.  He was in love with Mrs. Lancaster, she knew—­of that she was sure, notwithstanding Mrs. Nailor’s statement.  Could Mrs. Lancaster have treated him badly?  She had not even cared for her husband, so people said; would she be cruel to Keith?

The more she pondered over it the more unhappy Lois became.  Finally it appeared to her that her duty was plain.  If Mrs. Lancaster had rejected Keith for Wickersham, she might set her right.  She could, at least, set her right as to the story about him and Mrs. Wentworth.