Woman's friendship ruined by jealousy and betrayal in Paris in the 1870s and Boston in the 1880s. Prudence Wingate of Boston and Delphine Beaupre of New Orleans are inseparable until Prudence discovers her husband and Delphine have been having an affair for 2 years. Knowing of her friend's heart condition, Prudence kills her with chloroform, confessing to her husband 10 years later on her own deathbed. Nice study of jealousy and passion behind the facade of New England righteousness. Smoothly written. (PB)