n, to cover it, he changed his position,
bringing his arms down and crossing them on his breast.

"You might tell me what she is like," continued Enid, with more
playfulness of manner than she generally showed. "You tell me so little
about London people! Is she handsome?"

"Yes, very."

"Dark or fair?"

"Very dark."

"Is she an Englishwoman?" pursued Enid.

"I am sure I don't know. I never asked."

"You know her then?"

"What makes you ask all these questions?" said Hubert, as if he had not
heard the last. "Who has put Miss West into your head in this way?" He
looked annoyed.

Enid at once put out a caressing hand.

"I did not mean to be too inquisitive, Hubert dear. But the Tollemaches
are very musical, and they were talking a great deal about her. They
said they saw you at the concert when she came out--some Italian
teacher's semi-private concert--and they seemed to think that you knew
the whole set of people who were there."

Mentally Hubert made some uncharitable remarks on the future destiny of
the Tollemaches; but he controlled himself so far as to answer coolly--

"I know several of that set, certainly. I know Miss West a little."

"How delightful," cried Enid. "I should like to meet some of these great
artists. Will you ever be able to introduce me to her, do you think,
Hubert?"

"I think not," said Hubert, knitting his brows. He did not find himself
able to turn the subject quite as easily as he could have wished.

"Oh, isn't she nice?" hazarded Enid doubtfully. "I always fancy that the
people who sing and act in public can't be quite as nice as the people
who stay in their own home-circle. I know that you will think me very
narrow-minded to say so, but I can't help it."

"I am afraid that I do think it rather narrow-minded," said Hubert
quietly, but with a dangerous lighting of his eyes. "You must surely
know that some of these singers are as good, as noble, as womanly as any
of your sheltered young ladies in their home-circles, who have not
genius enough to make themselves talked of by the world!"

"Oh, yes, I suppose so!" said Enid, quite unconscious of the storm that
she was exciting in Hubert's breast. "But it is difficult to understand
why they prefer a public life to a private one. Do you think they really
like appearing on the stage?"

"I am sure they do," said Hubert, with a short laugh. "You cannot
understand it as yet, I suppose; you will understand it by-and-by. It
would be a