t season under the wing of Lady Tranmore, had been
much seen in public with Geoffrey Cliffe? Then he had departed eastward,
to explore the upper waters of the Mekong, and the gossip excited had
died away. Of late her name had been rather coupled with that of William
Ashe.

Well, so far as the world was concerned, she might mate with
either--with the mad notoriety of Cliffe or the young distinction of
Ashe. Darrell's bitter heart contracted as he reflected that only for
him and the likes of him, men of the people, with average ability, and a
scarcely average income, were maidens of Mary Lyster's dower and
pedigree out of reach. Meanwhile he revenged himself by being her very
good friend, and allowing himself at times much caustic plainness of
speech in his talks with her.

* * * * *

"What are you three gossiping about?" said Ashe, strolling in presently
from the other room to join them.

"As usual," said Darrell. "I am listening to perfection. Miss Lyster and
Harman are discussing pictures."

Ashe stifled a little yawn. He threw himself down by Mary, vowing that
there was no more pleasure to be got out of pictures now that people
would try to know so much about them. Mary meanwhile raised herself
involuntarily to look into the farther room, where the noise made by
Cliffe and Lady Kitty had increased.

"They are going to sing," said Ashe, lazily--"and it won't be hymns."

In fact, Lady Kitty had opened the piano, and had begun the first bars
of something French and operatic. At the first sound of Kitty's music,
however, Lady Grosville drew herself up; she closed the volume of
Evangelical sermons for which she had exchanged the <i>Times</i>; she
deposited her spectacles sharply on the table beside her.

"Amy!--Caroline!"

Those young ladies rose. So did Lady Grosville. Kitty meanwhile sat with
suspended fingers and laughing eyes, waiting on her aunt's movements.

"Kitty, pray don't let me interfere with your playing," said Lady
Grosville, with severe politeness--"but perhaps you would kindly put it
off for half an hour. I am now going to read to the servants--"

"Gracious!" said Kitty, springing up. "I was going to play Mr. Cliffe
some Offenbach."

"Ah, but the piano can be heard in the library, and your cousin Amy
plays the harmonium--"

"<i>Mon Dieu</i>!" said Kitty. "We will be as quiet as mice. Or"--she made a
quick step in pursuit of her aunt--"shall I come and sing, Aun