impossible to explain. Oh, if you'd only do just what I advise--if you'd
only _go_ by me, and not want these long tedious explanations, how much
better it would be! You see, Harry is giving this dinner _on purpose_ so
that Daphne shall meet Van Buren by accident. You know all about Van
Buren, _the_ Van Buren--the millionaire, who turns out to be a dear
creature and quite charming! and has taken the _greatest_ fancy to
Harry, and clings on to him, and keeps on and on asking him to ask him
to meet people. You must own it would be rather jolly for Daphne,
because, of course, you can't _think_ how he's run after--I mean Van
Buren--and he isn't an ordinary American snob, and it really and truly
isn't only his millionairishness, but he's a real person, and
good-looking and nice as well; and though, Heaven knows, I'm as romantic
as anybody--for myself--I wouldn't be so selfish as to be romantic for
her too, and I can't help feeling it's our duty, being in the place of
parents to her, to give the angel a sporting chance! Of course, the
point is, Van Buren has told Harry he only likes nice English girls very
well brought up, and he wants to settle down in England, and he thinks
that any relation of Harry's must be perfect; and, naturally, I'm
pleased. I feel exactly like a mother to Daphne, although she's only six
years younger."

"Well, that's all right. I see all that."

Romer seemed rather bored, as men naturally are at a long catalogue of
another man's advantages. "Now, look here. Why would it look better for
me not to go?"

There was some excuse for his insistence on this point, for in a
superficial way Romer was very effective, fair and good-looking,
well-made and distinguished; but the entire absence of all expression
from his empty, regular face, and of all animation from his dry,
colourless voice and manner, soon counteracted the effectiveness.
Valentia often said that Romer should never do more than walk through a
room or look in for a few minutes where there were other people--even at
a club--and then go away immediately, when he would leave a striking
impression. If he stayed longer he became alarming. His personality was
so extraordinarily _nil_ that it was quite oppressive. Obviously kind
and not in the least pompous, yet his silence made him formidable,
especially to most of his wife's friends who, though they could hardly
be reproached with want of pluck as a general rule, had one great fear
in life--the fea