long earrings,
and a knot of rare old imitation lace at her throat. Eagerness,
impatience, love of teasing and sharp wit were visible in her face to
one who could read between the lines. But, notwithstanding this, as she
had a soft heart and plenty of hard cash, she was not altogether
unpopular. People enjoyed going to hear the nasty things she said about
their friends. She had a real _succes de scandale_ on her Wednesdays,
notwithstanding the fact that a more highly respectable lady had never
existed in the world.

She adored Romer, although his slow speech and long pauses often drove
her to the very verge of violence.

"Thought I'd look in," he remarked, rather heavily taking a seat in the
dark drawing-room, and he proceeded by slow stages to tell her that he
was coming to dinner on Thursday because Valentia was going out.

She gave him a quick look, combined of motherly pride and annoyance.

"Delighted, of course, dear. Who did you say was Valentia's hostess?"

"She's going with Daphne. Harry's dinner. At some restaurant."

"Oh, indeed!... Well, if you approve of these Bohemian arrangements it's
not _my_ business. I have my own opinion of Harry de Freyne; I always
have had--and I shall keep it."

"Do," said Romer, unconsciously epigrammatic.

She waited a minute and then said--

"I don't wish to worry you, my dear ..."

"No?"

"... But I, personally, if I were a man ... perhaps I oughtn't to say
it--if I saw my wife so much in the society of a person like Harry de
Freyne--upon my word, I should begin to ask myself what were their
relations!"

"Cousins," said Romer.

He began to tap his foot slowly against the rail of the chair, but
remembered Valentia's constant advice, and decided he would not quarrel.

"Well, you know your affairs best, dear. I'm only an interfering
disagreeable old woman, who knows very little of modern customs and
ways."

He nodded sympathetically, without answering.

"I love and admire Valentia--in many ways. She's so pretty, but not a
mere doll! And we women--even the happiest of us--have to go through so
much! Does she go through the housekeeping books herself, dear?" Mrs.
Wyburn inquired, with dangerous sweetness.

"Shouldn't think so."

"Ah! that seems rather a pity. Still, I'm just to every one, and I will
say that she's not extravagant--but has so much cleverness that she
could manage very well on half the allowance you give her!"

"Is that new--that china bird?"