by parental
authority: "And it all ended in my becoming Lady Dawning." A sigh of
satisfaction concluded the episode of romance, and led the way back to
the present day.

When Lady Dawning had advised Mrs. Carteret to keep poor dear Johnny's
girl quietly in the country, she had by no means intended to let any of
her friends know anything about Molly. She had looked important and
mysterious when people spoke of Sir David Bright's amazing will, but she
made a real sacrifice to Johnny's memory by not divulging her knowledge
of facts or her own conclusions from those facts. But the enjoyment of
talking of her own romantic youth to Edmund had had a softening effect.

Sir Edmund appeared to be so very wise and safe.

"Of course, it is only to you," came first; and then, "It would be a
relief to me to get the opinion of a man of the world; poor dear Anne
Carteret consults me, and I really don't know what to advise. Fancy!
that woman allows the girl L3000 a year, and Anne Carteret would
probably have acted on my advice and kept her quiet so that no one need
know anything of the wretched story, but the girl won't be quiet, and
will come up to London, and it seems so unsafe, don't you know? They are
looking for a chaperone, as nothing will make Anne come herself. And if
it all comes out it will be so unpleasant for poor dear Rose Bright to
meet this girl all dressed up with her money; don't you think so?"

Lady Dawning was now quite screaming with excitement, and very red in
nose and chin. It would be a long time before she could be quite dull
again. But Edmund was far too deeply interested to notice details.

They parted very cordially, and Lady Dawning promised to let him know if
she heard from Anne Carteret, and, if possible, to pass on the name of
the chaperone woman who was to take Molly into society.

"And so your _protegee_ is to arrive to-night?" said Edmund Grosse.

"Yes, and I _am_ so frightened;" and with a little laugh appreciative of
herself in general, Mrs. Delaport Green held up a cup of China tea in a
pretty little white hand belonging to an arm that curved and thickened
from the wrist to the elbow in perfect lines.

Sir Edmund gave the arm the faintest glance of appreciation before it
retreated into lace frills within its brown sleeve. Those lace frills
were the only apparent extravagance in the simple frock in question, and
simplicity was the chief note in this lady's charming appearance.

"I don't bel