wonderful nerve specialist, this reformer of the
world, this----"

"Yes, all right, Joseph. You don't shine at that sort of oratory. What
has Lord Henry done?"

"He has not only constantly engaged Leonetta in unsuitable conversation,
but to-day, he actually kissed her!"

Mrs. Delarayne laughed. "I told you Denis was jealous," she exclaimed.
"Knights errant always are. I've always suspected that St. George was
jealous of the dragon."

Nevertheless, while Sir Joseph's slow brain was working this out, she
snatched a moment to ponder how her noble young friend could possibly
have found it necessary to go to such unexpected extremes.

"Don't be unfair, Edith," Sir Joseph objected. "Denis was quite right to
tell us. Lord Henry is much too old to kiss a child like Leonetta."

"You mean he is just old enough."

The baronet waved his hands in a mystified manner before him. "I cannot
understand you," he replied.

It was at this point that Denis burst in upon them.

"I beg your pardon," he said, "you wanted to discuss something with me,
I believe," he added, addressing Sir Joseph.

"Yes, we did,--that is to say, Mrs. Delarayne," stammered the baronet.
He was always a little uncomfortable when he felt constrained to be
amiable to one of his staff.

"We both wished to speak to you, Denis," said Mrs. Delarayne. "Sit down,
will you."

Denis sat down and folded his arms,--a position Mrs. Delarayne had never
seen him assume before.

"It is about Leonetta," she added.

"Oh, yes," said Denis. He was completely dazed. He had just felt that
"one touch of nature" which nowadays sets the whole world's teeth on
edge,--Eve completely and cheerfully unscrupulous, Eve wild and untamed,
cruel and heartless while her deepest passions are still unengaged,--and
he felt like one bewitched.

"We wish to ask you," began Sir Joseph pompously.

"Please let me speak," interrupted the widow. "We have noticed,--nobody
could have helped noticing,--that since you have been down here you have
been paying my daughter Leo unusually marked attention."

"But surely you have also noticed--" Denis objected.

"One moment!" cried Mrs. Delarayne. "I do not say that Leo isn't
attractive. I know she's exceedingly attractive,--so attractive that, I
understand, even Lord Henry appears to have fallen a victim to her
charm."

"Yes, and perhaps you have also heard--" the young man muttered with
some agitation.

"I have heard everything," said the wi