remark is made."

* * * * *

Daisy's last conjecture was correct, and it was not till after five,
when tea had been laid on the broad, creeper-covered verandah to the
east of the house, that any one appeared. Then, however, they appeared
in large numbers, for most of Lady Nottingham's guests had chosen the
train she recommended to travel by. Every one, in fact, arrived by it
with the exception of Jeannie Halton and Lord Lindfield.

"I knew Jeannie would miss it," Lady Nottingham said, "but as she was
equally certain she would not the thing had to be put to the proof.
Daisy darling, how are you? She insisted on being taken to the symphony
concert; at least, she didn't so much insist as Lord Lindfield insisted
on taking her. They were to meet us at Paddington, and in case--Jeannie
went so far as to provide for that contingency--in case they missed it,
he was to drive her down in his motor."

Victor Braithwaite, who had come with the party, joined in.

"I know that motor," he said. "It can do any journey the second time it
tries, but no journey the first time. He took me the other day from
Baker Street to South Audley Street, and it stuck in the middle of
Oxford Street."

Jim Crowfoot helped himself largely to strawberries, and turned to
Daisy. He was a slim, rather small young man, with a voice some two
sizes too large for him. He was supposed to be rather a good person to
have in the house, because he never stopped talking. Had it been
possible to cover him over with a piece of green baize, like a canary,
when one had had enough, he would have been even more desirable.

"I suppose that's what they mean by second thoughts being the best," he
said. "It isn't usually the case; at least, I find that if ever I think
right, it's always when I don't give the matter any consideration. I
came down here without considering that I promised to dine with Mrs.
Streatham this evening, and it was an excellent plan."

Mrs. Beaumont broke in. Her plan was always to be tremendously
appreciative of everybody for two sentences, in order to enhance the
effect of the nasty things she said of everybody the moment afterwards.
It set the nasty things off better.

"I think every one is too horrid about our dear kind Mrs. Streatham,"
she said. "She is the most hospitable woman I know, and you, for
instance, Jim, go and eat her cutlets and then laugh at her. She asked
me to dine with her next Friday, but I sa