embarrassment passed over her face as she said quietly--

"Yes, I knew it was your son. I met Captain Fanshawe here one evening
last winter, so I have been introduced."

Mrs Fanshawe waved her _lorgnon_, and murmured some vague words which
might, or might not, have been intended as an apology.

"Oh, yes. So nice! Naturally, that morning I was worn-out. I did not
know what I was doing. I crawled into bed. Erskine told me about
meeting you, and of your pretty performance. Quite a professional
_siffleuse_! More amusing than school teaching, I should say. _And_
more profitable. You ought to think of it as a profession. Erskine was
quite pleased. He comes here a great deal. Of course--"

Mrs Fanshawe's smile deepened in meaning fashion, then suddenly she
sighed. "Very delightful for them, of course; but I see nothing of him.
We mothers of modern children have a lonely time. I used to wish for a
daughter, but perhaps, if I'd had one, _she_ would have developed a
fancy to fly off to India!"

That was a hit at Claire, but she received it in silence, being a little
touched by the unaffected note of wistfulness in the other's voice as
she regretted her lonely estate. It _was_ hard to be a widow, and to
see so little of an only child, especially if that only child happened
to be so altogether charming and attractive!

Mrs Fanshawe glanced across at the tea-table where Janet and her
cavalier were still busy ministering to the needs of fresh arrivals.

"I asked Janet Willoughby to take pity on me for a few weeks this
summer, but she's too full up with her own plans. Says so, at least;
but I dare say it would have been different if-- Well, well! I have
been young myself, and I dare say I shouldn't have been too keen to
accept an invitation to stay in the country with only an old woman as
companion. Enjoy yourself while you are young, my dear. It gets more
and more difficult with every year you live."

Claire made a protesting grimace.

"Does it? That's discouraging. I've always flattered myself that it
would grow easier. When one is young, everything is vague and
unsettled, and naturally one feels anxious about what is to happen next.
It is almost impossible to be philosophical about the unknown, but when
your life has shaped itself, it ought to be easy to settle down and make
the best of it, and cultivate an easy mind."

Mrs Fanshawe laughed.

"Well reasoned, my dear, well reasoned! Most logical