**Poor Ophelia Strong!" sighed Miss Snodley, with a
breath of penitence. *' What if it proves a great blow to
her. Perhaps — "

** Nonsense," said Mrs. Marjoy, sharply; ** don't be
sentimental, Zinia. We are only doing our duty."



XXIV

BY Dr. Glibly 's advice Ophelia Strong had removed
to a fashionable seaside town on the southern coast,
so that after the keen, brisk air of Callydon she might
become more acclimatized for the warmer temper of the
Saltire woods. The change, moreover, had been ren-
dered expedient by other considerations. Major Mal-
travers had himself advised it, and, as he could generally
furbish up sufficient facile logic to uphold his opinions,
Ophelia had come to have great faith in him. The sol-
dier had been playing a most romantic and problemat-
ic part, a part well calculated to render unstable the
equilibrium of any ordinary woman's brain. As for
Miss Mabel Saker, she accompained the invalid with
creditable devotion, perhaps to found new kingdoms of
sentiment on the southern shores. Flirtation with the
brunette was an amiable habit, a habit that she had the
sense to preserve from dissipation.
St. Aylmers claimed the usual features of seaside
health resorts. It possessed a pier, a handsome prom-
enade, winter - gardens, a concert -hall, a string -band,
hotels, hydros, and expensive lodging-houses. The
parade crescented the sea with a scroll-work of many
colors. Aloes set in large, green tubs punctuated the
pavement. Here and there rose an oasis of flowers
ringed round by vivid circles of grass and aesthetically

203



THE SLANDERERS

trimmed hedges. Bathing - machines were trundled
down the beach by superlatively obese horses, the very
obesity of the animals enlisting the sympathies of the
old ladies with the virtuous and kind-hearted proprietor.
