erself had extinguished the
torch of love.

CHAPTER XXIX

There was an air of restrained excitement, importance and mystery among
the ladies at luncheon. They had got back to the house in time to have
their conclave before that meal, and everything was satisfactorily
settled. Lady Anningford, who had not accompanied them out shooting, had
thought out a whole scheme, and announced it upon their return amidst
acclamations.

They would represent as many characters as they could from the "Idylls
of the King," because the style would be such loose, hanging kinds of
garments, the maids could run up the long straight seams in no time. And
it would be so much more delightful, all to carry out one idea, than the
usual powdered heads and non-descript things people chose for such
impromptu occasions. It only remained to finally decide the characters.
She considered that Ethelrida should undoubtedly be _Guinevere_; but,
above all, Zara must be _Isolt_!

"Of course, of course!" they all cried unanimously, while Zara's eyes
went black. "_Tristram_ and _Isolt_! How splendid!"

"And I shall be _Brangaine_, and give the love potion," Lady Anningford
went on. "Although it does not come into the 'Idylls of the King,' it
should do so. It is just because Tennyson was so fearfully, respectably
Early Victorian! I have been looking all the real thing up in the 'Morte
d' Arthur' in the library, and in the beautiful edition of 'Tristram
and Yseult' in Ethelrida's room."

"How perfectly enchanting!" cried Lady Betty. "I must be the _Lady of
the Lake_--it is much the most dramatic part. And let us get the big
sword out of the armory for _Excalibur_! I can have it, and brandish it
as I enter the room."

"Oh, nonsense, Betty darling!" Ethelrida said. "You are the very picture
of _Lynette_, with your enchanting nose 'tiptilted like the tender petal
of a flower,' and your shameful treatment of poor Jimmy!"

And Lady Betty, after bridling a little, consented.

Then the other parts were cast. Emily should be _Enid_ and Mary,
_Elaine_, while Lady Melton, Lady Thornby and Mrs. Harcourt should be
the _Three Fair Queens_.

"I shall be _Ettarre_," said Lily Opie. "The others are all good and
dull; and I prefer her, because I am sure she wasn't! And certainly Lady
Highford must be _Vivien_! She is exactly the type, in one of her
tea gowns!"

Laura rather liked the idea of _Vivien_. It had _cachet_, she thought.
She was very fond of posing