t de feet of beauty?'

The circle round them applauded hotly, the touch of theatricality
finding immediate response. Langham was remorselessly conscious of the
man's absurd _chevelure_ and ill-fitting clothes. But Rose herself had
evidently nothing but relish for the scene. Proudly smiling, she held
out her hand for her property, and as soon as she had it safe, she
whisked it into the open drawer of a cabinet standing near, and drawing
out the key, held it up a moment in her taper fingers, and then,
depositing it in a little velvet bag hanging at her girdle, she closed
the snap upon it with a little vindictive wave of triumph. Every
movement was graceful, rapid, effective.

Half a dozen German throats broke into guttural protest. Amid the storm
of laughter and remonstrance, the door suddenly opened. The fluttered
parlour-maid mumbled a long name, and, with a port of soldierly
uprightness, there advanced behind her a large fair-haired woman,
followed by a gentleman, and in the distance by another figure.

Rose drew back a moment astounded, one hand on the piano, her dress
sweeping round her. An awkward silence fell on the chattering circle of
musicians.

'Good heavens!' said Langham to himself, 'Lady Charlotte Wynnstay!'

'How do you do, Miss Leyburn?' said one of the most piercing of voices.
'Are you surprised to see me? You didn't ask me--perhaps you don't want
me. But I have come, you see, partly because my nephew was coming,' and
she pointed to the gentleman behind her, 'partly because I meant to
punish you for not having come to see me last Thursday. Why didn't you?'

'Because we thought you were still away,' said Rose, who had by this
time recovered her self-possession. 'But if you meant to punish me, Lady
Charlotte, you have done it badly. I am delighted to see you. May I
introduce my sister? Agnes, will you find Lady Charlotte Wynnstay a
chair by mamma?'

'Oh, you wish, I see, to dispose of me at once,' said the other
imperturbably. 'What is happening? Is it music?'

'Aunt Charlotte, that is most disingenuous on your part. I gave you
ample warning.'

Rose turned a smiling face towards the speaker. It was Mr. Flaxman, Lady
Charlotte's companion.

'You need not have drawn the picture too black, Mr. Flaxman. There is an
escape. If Lady Charlotte will only let my sister take her into the next
room, she will find herself well out of the clutches of the music. Oh,
Robert! Here you are at last! Lady Charlott