why were you so anxious to go?"

"I don't like to be left out of things. No one does."

"Except the elect. How thoughtful of you to dress in black!"

"Well, dearest, you are always in white. And I love to throw up my
beautiful mother."

Mrs. Mansfield put an arm gently round her as they left the dining-room.

"You could make any mother be a sister to you."

Just before ten their motor glided up to the Elliots' green door in
Cadogan Place.

Max Elliot was the very successful senior partner of an old-established
stockbroking firm in the City. This was a fact, so people had to accept
it. But acceptance was made difficult by his almost strangely
unfinancial appearance and manner. Out of the City he never spoke of the
City. He was devoted to the arts, and especially to music, of which he
had a really considerable knowledge. All prominent musicians knew him.
He was the friend of _prime donne_, a pillar of the opera, an ardent
frequenter of all the important concerts. Where Threadneedle Street came
into his life nobody seemed to know. Nevertheless, his numerous clients
trusted him completely as a business man. And more than one singer,
whose artistic temperament had brought her--or him, as the case might
be--to the door of the poorhouse, had reason to bless Max Elliot's
shrewd business head and generous industry in friendship. He had a good
heart as well as a fine taste, and his power of criticism had not
succeeded in killing his capacity for enthusiasm.

"_He's_ not begun yet!" murmured Charmian to her mother, as the butler
led them sedately down a rather long hall, past two or three doors, to
the music-room which Elliot had built out at the back of his house.

"I never heard that he was going to begin at all. We haven't come here
for a performance, but to make an acquaintance."

Charmian twisted her lips, and the butler opened the door and announced
them.

At the end of the room, which was panelled with wood and was high, by a
large open fireplace, Max Elliot was sitting with Paul Lane and two
other people, a woman and a young man. The woman was large and broad,
with brown hair, reckless hazel eyes, and a nose and mouth which
suggested a Roman emperor. She looked about thirty-five. In her large
ears, which were set very flat against her head, there were long,
diamond earrings, and diamonds glittered round her neck. She was
laughing when the Mansfields came in, and went on laughing while Max
Elliot went to recei