a, evasively.

"Oh, Lord, much worse than that!" said Lady Niton, coolly. "He makes
himself very unpopular. You should tell him so."

"That would be hardly my place." said Diana, flushing a little.

Lady Niton stared at her a moment rather hard--then said: "But he's
honey and balm itself compared to Isabel! The Marshams are old friends
of mine, but I don't pretend to like Isabel Fotheringham at all. She
calls herself a Radical, and there's no one insists more upon their
birth and their advantages than she. Don't let her bully you--come to me
if she does--I'll protect you."

Diana said vaguely that Mrs. Fotheringham had been very kind.

"You haven't had time to find out," said Lady Niton, grimly. She leaned
back fanning herself, her queer white face and small black eyes alive
with malice. "Did you ever see such a crew as we were at dinner? I
reminded Oliver of the rhyme--'The animals went in two by two.'--It's
always the way here. There's no _society_ in this house, because you
can't take anything or any one for granted. One must always begin from
the beginning. What can I have in common with that man Barton? The last
time I talked to him, he thought Lord Grey--the Reform Bill Lord
Grey--was a Tory--and had never heard of Louis Philippe. He knows
nothing that _we_ know--and what do I care about his Socialist
stuff?--Well, now--Alicia"--her tone changed--"do you admire Alicia?"

Diana, in discomfort, glanced through the archway, leading to the inner
drawing-room, which framed the sparkling figure of Miss Drake--and
murmured a complimentary remark.

"No!"--said Lady Niton, with emphasis; "no--she's not handsome--though
she makes people believe she is. You'll see--in five years. Of course
the stupid men admire her, and she plays her cards very cleverly;
but--my dear!"--suddenly the formidable old woman bent forward, and
tapped Diana's arm with her fan--"let me give you a word of advice.
Don't be too innocent here--or too amiable. Don't give yourself
away--especially to Alicia!"

Diana had the disagreeable feeling of being looked through and through,
physically and mentally; though at the same time she was only very
vaguely conscious as to what there might be either for Lady Niton or
Miss Drake to see.

"Thank you very much," she said, trying to laugh it off. "It is very
kind of you to warn me--but really I don't think you need." She looked
round her waveringly.

"May I introduce you to my friend? Mrs. Colwood--L