“Perhaps you wrong Mrs. Grimes there,” spoke up Mrs. Markle.  “She did not mention it to me until I inquired of her if the report was true.  And then she told me that she had never told it but to a single person, in confidence, and that she had inadvertently alluded to it, and thus it became a common report.  So I think that Mrs. Grimes cannot justly be charged with having sought to circulate the matter to your injury.”

“Very well, we will see how far that statement is correct,” said Mrs. Comegys.  “Did she mention the subject to you, Mrs. Raynor?”

“She did,” replied Mrs. Raynor.  “But in strict confidence, and enjoining it upon me not to mention it to any one, as she had no wish to injure you.”

“Did you tell it to any one?”

“No.  It was but a little while afterward that it was told to me by some one else.”

“Was it mentioned to you, Mrs. Florence?” proceeded Mrs. Comegys, turning to another of the ladies present.

“It was, ma’am.”

“By Mrs. Grimes?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“In confidence, I suppose?”

“I was requested to say nothing about it, for fear that it might create an unfavorable impression in regard to you.”

“Very well; there are two already.  How was it in your case, Mrs. Wheeler?”

This lady answered as the others had done.  The question was then put to each lady in the room, when it appeared that out of the twenty, fifteen had received their information on the subject from Mrs. Grimes, and that upon every one secrecy had been enjoined, although not in every case maintained.

“So it seems, Mrs. Markle,” said Mrs. Comegys, after she had finished her inquiries, “that Mrs. Grimes has, as I alleged, industriously circulated this matter to my injury.”

“It certainly appears so,” returned Mrs. Markle, coldly.

Thus brought into a corner, Mrs. Grimes bristled up like certain animals, which are good at running and skulking, but which, when fairly trapped, fight desperately.

“Telling it to a thousand is not half as bad as doing it, Mrs. Comegys,” she said, angrily.  “You needn’t try to screen yourself from the consequences of your wrong doings, by raising a hue and cry against me.  Go to the fact, madam!  Go to the fact, and stand alongside of what you have done.”

“I have no hesitation about doing that, Mrs. Grimes.  Pray, what have I done?”

“It is very strange that you should ask, madam.”

“But I am charged, I learn, with having committed a crime against society; and you are the author of the charge.  What is the crime?”

“If it is any satisfaction to you, I will tell you.  I was at your house when the pattern of the lawn dress you now have on was sent home.  You measured it in my presence, and there were several yards in it more than you had bought and paid for”—­

“How many?”

Mrs. Grimes looked confused, and stammered out, “I do not now exactly remember.”