in the cities and watching the people. Only the
London streets are so sad. Then I am fond of reading. I'm afraid I
should be rather a strange figure if I were to be suddenly projected
into your world, Lady Elisabeth."

"But I like to feel that you are in my world," she said gently.
"Believe me, it isn't altogether made up of people who play games."

"I read the daily papers," he remarked. "Didn't I see something
yesterday about Lady Elisabeth Landon having won the scratch prize at
Ranelagh at a ladies' golf meeting?"

She laughed pleasantly.

"Oh! well," she protested, "you must make allowance for my bringing up.
We begin to play games in this country as soon as we can crawl about the
nursery. It all depends upon the value you set upon these things."

A servant knocked at the door and announced the service of luncheon.
Elisabeth rose reluctantly to her feet.

"Now, I suppose, I must hand you over to the serious business of life,"
she sighed. "If you do have a minute to spare when you have finished
with my uncle," she added in a lower tone, as they passed down the wide
staircase side by side, "come up and see me before you go. I shall be
in till four o'clock."

The familiarity of her words, half whispered in his ear, the delightful
suggestion of some confidential understanding between them, were alike
fascinating to him. In her plain white serge coat and skirt, and smart
hat--she had just come in from walking in the park--she seemed to him to
represent so perfectly the very best and most delightful type of
womanhood. Her complexion was perfect, her skin fresh as a child's.
She carried herself with the spring and grace of one who walks through
life self-confidently, fortified always with the knowledge that she was
a favourite with women as well as with men. He sat by her side at
luncheon and he could not help admiring the delicate tact with which she
prevented the conversation from ever remaining more than a few seconds
in channels which might have made him feel something of an alien. There
was another nephew of Mr. Foley's there, a famous polo player and
sportsman; Lord Carton, whose eyes seldom left Elisabeth's face; Sir
William Blend, the great lawyer; Mr. Horrill and Lord Armley. These,
with Elisabeth's mother and herself, made up the party.

"I think I am going to bar politics," Lady Grenside said, as she took
her place.

"Impossible!" Mr. Foley retorted, in high good humour. "This is a
political luncheon