a glance from Lady Flora converted vexation into rage. She turned
back to Theo; somehow Mr Disney had taught her how to like him--often a
valuable lesson, if people would keep their eyes open for it.

"Everybody else I've met has been horribly afraid of Mr Disney," she
said in a half-whisper.

"Oh, you aren't in a funk of a man who's smacked your head!"

That seemed a better paradox than most. Mina nodded approvingly.

"What does the Bank say about Barililand, Theo?" called Disney. Lord
Hove paused in the act of drinking a glass of wine.

"Well, they're just wonderin' who's goin' to do the kickin'," said Theo.

"And who's going to take it?" Disney seemed much amused. Lord Hove had
turned a little pink. Mina had a vague sense that serious things were
being joked about. Harry had turned from his hostess and was listening.

"That's what it comes to," concluded Theo.

Disney glanced round, smiling grimly. Everybody had become silent.
Barililand had produced the question on which Lord Hove was supposed to
be restive. Disney laughed and looked at his wife. She rose from the
table. Mr Disney had either learnt what he wanted or had finished
amusing himself. Mina did not know which; no more, oddly enough, did
Lord Hove.

Mr Disney was by the door, saying good-by to the ladies; he would not be
coming to the drawing-room. He stopped Mina, who went out last, just
before his wife.

"We've done all we could, Madame Zabriska," he said. "We must leave him
alone, eh?"

"I'm afraid so. You've been very kind, Mr Disney."

"Better as it is, I fancy. Now then, Flora!" At this peremptory summons
Lady Flora left Theo, by whom she had halted, and followed Mina through
the door.

The dreadful moment had come. It justified Mina's fears, but not in the
way she had expected. Two of the women left directly; the other two went
off into a corner; her hostess sat down and talked to her. Lady Flora
was not distant and did not make Mina feel an outsider. The fault was
the other way; she was confidential--and about Harry. She assumed an
intimacy with him equal or more than equal to Mina's own; she even told
Mina things about him; she said "we" thought him an enormous
acquisition, and hoped to see a great deal of him. It was all very kind,
and Mina, as a true friend, should have been delighted. As it was, dolor
grew upon her.

"And I suppose the cousin is quite----?" A gentle motion of Lady Flora's
fan was left to define Cecily more exac