ncomfortable
twist, though not wholly, as it seemed to him, by the act of Nick's
queer comrade. To draw it back to safer ground he said to this
personage: "May I ask if the ladies you just spoke of are English--Mrs.
and Miss Rooth: isn't that the rather odd name?"

"The very same. Only the daughter, according to her kind, desires to be
known by some _nom de guerre_ before she has even been able to enlist."

"And what does she call herself?" Bridget Dormer asked.

"Maud Vavasour, or Edith Temple, or Gladys Vane--some rubbish of that
sort."

"What then is her own name?"

"Miriam--Miriam Rooth. It would do very well and would give her the
benefit of the prepossessing fact that--to the best of my belief at
least--she's more than half a Jewess."

"It is as good as Rachel Felix," Sherringham said.

"The name's as good, but not the talent. The girl's splendidly stupid."

"And more than half a Jewess? Don't you believe it!" Sherringham
laughed.

"Don't believe she's a Jewess?" Biddy asked, still more interested in
Miriam Rooth.

"No, no--that she's stupid, really. If she is she'll be the first."

"Ah you may judge for yourself," Nash rejoined, "if you'll come
to-morrow afternoon to Madame Carre, Rue de Constantinople, _a
l'entresol_."

"Madame Carre? Why, I've already a note from her--I found it this
morning on my return to Paris--asking me to look in at five o'clock and
listen to a _jeune Anglaise_."

"That's my arrangement--I obtained the favour. The ladies want an
opinion, and dear old Carre has consented to see them and to give one.
Maud Vavasour will recite, and the venerable artist will pass
judgement."

Sherringham remembered he had his note in his pocket and took it out to
look it over. "She wishes to make her a little audience--she says she'll
do better with that--and she asks me because I'm English. I shall make a
point of going."

"And bring Dormer if you can: the audience will be better. Will you
come, Dormer?" Mr. Nash continued, appealing to his friend--"will you
come with me to hear an English amateur recite and an old French actress
pitch into her?"

Nick looked round from his talk with his mother and Grace. "I'll go
anywhere with you so that, as I've told you, I mayn't lose sight of
you--may keep hold of you."

"Poor Mr. Nash, why is he so useful?" Lady Agnes took a cold freedom to
inquire.

"He steadies me, mother."

"Oh I wish you'd take _me_, Peter," Biddy broke out wistfully to he