hey're so dreadfully
rude to Academicians, you know--always talking about 'pot-boilers,'
and suggesting that they ought to retire on their laurels. As if
laurels were any good! One can't keep a carriage on laurels."

"No, by Jove! it wouldn't be good for the horses. I say, though,
Mrs. Dollond, is one supposed to go through all the rooms?"

"Oh yes," replied the lady composedly; "all except the
water-colours, and sculpture, and architecture. One only goes there
to flirt, as a rule. Personally, I always get up the pictures from
'Academy Notes,' when I haven't seen them at the studios, you know.
Yes; I should like some tea, please, since Mrs. Lightmark has
deserted you. Is that Lady Garnett with her? What lovely white hair!
I wonder where she gets it."

Lady Garnett shrugged her shoulders a little petulantly after she
had made the ghost of a return to Mrs. Dollond's airy greeting.

"My dear," she said, turning to Eve confidentially, "may I confess
to you that I am not altogether too fond of that woman? Is she a
great friend of yours, or don't you know her well enough to abuse
her? I like the husband; he amuses me, though he is rather a bear.
Otherwise, I should not see very much of Mrs. Dollond, I promise
you."

Eve smiled at the thought of Mr. Dollond's eccentricities, and then
her face grew rather grave.

"Shall we go into the lecture-room?" she suggested. "It is cooler
there among the statues, and perhaps we shall be able to sit down."

The old lady assented with alacrity.

"Yes," she said; "by all means let us leave these painty pictures,
and we will have a chat; you shall tell me of your wanderings.
Apropos, did you see anything of our friend Philip? His last
letter--a long time ago; he is becoming a bad correspondent--struck
me as rather _triste_, even for him. I'm afraid he is not well."

"Yes," said Eve slowly; "we went over to Bordighera one day while we
were at Cannes, and we stayed a night at the hotel, but we didn't
see Mr. Rainham. He had gone over to Monte Carlo."

"Ah, poor fellow, what an idea! I wonder what dragged him there."

Eve looked at the old lady questioningly for a minute.

"I think he went with the Dollonds," she answered gravely.

"Ah, my dear, no wonder his letter was dull! Then you didn't see
him? Well, I suppose he will come back soon. You mustn't be jealous
of him, you know. He is very much _lie_ with your husband, isn't he?"

"I don't suppose he will see quite so much of h