orse. Not mahogany and walnuts. Almonds and raisins."

"How is it that you're not ill, and unable to go?" said Vera, looking
really concerned, and almost anxious.

"Because I happen to know that she has asked two or three people to come
in in the evening. Bertie Wilton is one. He amuses her."

"Bertie Wilton?" exclaimed Vera.

"Yes. He's so clever and persevering! He's been making up steadily to
Aunt William for several days, so that she might ask him to meet me. At
last she has. As he says, everything comes to the man who won't wait."

"I wonder she approves of him."

"Well, she does in a sort of peculiar way, because he's of a good old
family, and hasn't gone into anything--like stockbroking or business of
any kind, and she thinks she can find him a nice suitable wife. She
thinks Lucy Winter would be very suitable. Aunt William lives for
suitability, you know. Isn't it funny of her?"

Vera laughed. "Lucy? Why, I took him with Lucy and me to choose a hat,
and there wasn't a thing she could wear. They don't get on at all. Lucy
likes serious, intellectual men; she says Bertie's frothy and trivial.
She wants to marry a great author, or a politician. However, thank
goodness, she's left off bothering about Bobby Henderson." Here Vera
sighed heavily.

"Has Bobby left off bothering about Agatha? That's the point."

"_I_ don't know," said Vera. "I don't understand him; we've been having
some very curious scenes together lately. I can't think what he means."

"He doesn't mean anything at all," said Felicity "and that's what you
_won't_ understand. What curious things, as you call them, has he been
doing lately?"

"Well, he called yesterday by appointment."

"_Your_ appointment, I suppose?" said Felicity.

"By telephone," said Vera evasively. "And stayed two hours. And at last
I took a very strong line."

"Oh, good gracious! What were you wearing?"

"My yellow gown--and the amber beads; it was quite late and the
lights--pink shades--were turned on--or else it would have been too
glaring, you know, dear."

"What was your strong line?" said Felicity.

"I suddenly said to him, like some one in a play, 'Do you dislike me,
Captain Henderson?'"

Felicity began to laugh. "What a fine speech! What did he say?"

"He answered, 'If I did, I shouldn't be here.' After that--not directly
after--he said, 'You look all right in yellow, Mrs. Ogilvie.' Do you
think that shows great admiration--or not?"

"I've heard more p