You needn't be too
grateful, dear."
"Perhaps, as she's known you some time, she feels you're sacrificing
yourself," Annesley defended the Countess. "I don't blame her!"
"She's sharp enough to see that I'm in great luck," said Smith. "But I
suppose there's always a dash of the cat in a woman of her race. I hope
there's no need to tell you that she has no right to be jealous. If she
had, I wouldn't have put you within reach of her claws. There are
assorted sizes and kinds of jealousy, though. Some women want all the
lime-light and grudge sparing any for a younger and prettier girl."
Annesley laughed. "_Prettier!_ Why, she's a beauty, and I----"
"Wait till I introduce you to Mrs. Nelson Smith, who's going to be one
of the best-dressed, best-looking young women in London, and you'll be
_sorry_ for the poor old Countess," returned Smith, warmly. "You can
afford then to heap coals of fire on her head, which can't make it redder
than it is. Meanwhile, it occurs to me, from the way the wind blows,
you'd better go carefully with the lady! Don't let her pump you about
yourself, or what happened at Mrs.
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