floating in your head,
and it is not good for you. Tell me at once what you mean!"

But Colonel Lowerby refused to be drawn, and presently took Tristram off
into the billiard-room.

It was arranged that all the men, even the husbands, were to go down
into the great white drawing-room first, so that the ladies might have
the pleasure of making an entrance _en bande_, to the delight of every
one. And when this group of Englishmen, so smart in their scarlet hunt
coats, were assembled at the end, by the fireplace, footmen opened the
big double doors, and the groom of the chambers announced,

"Her Majesty, _Queen Guinevere_, and the Ladies of her Court."

And Ethelrida advanced, her fair hair in two long plaits, with her
mother's all-round diamond crown upon her head, and clothed in some
white brocade garment, arranged with a blue merino cloak, trimmed with
ermine and silver. She looked perfectly regal, and as nearly beautiful
as she had ever done; and to the admiring eyes of Francis Markrute, she
seemed to outshine all the rest.

Then, their names called as they entered, came Enid and Elaine, each
fair and sweet; and Vivien and Ettarre; then Lynette walking alone, with
her saucy nose in the air and her flaxen curls spread out over her cream
robe, a most bewitching sight.

Several paces behind her came the _Three Fair Queens_, all in
wonderfully contrived garments, and misty, floating veils; and lastly,
quite ten paces in the rear, walked _Isolt_, followed by her
_Brangaine_. And when the group by the fireplace caught sight of her,
they one and all drew in their breath.

For Zara had surpassed all expectations. The intense and blatant blue of
her long clinging robe, which would have killed the charms of nine women
out of ten, seemed to enhance the beauty of her pure white skin and
marvelous hair. It fell like a red shining cloak all round her, kept in
only by a thin fillet of gold, while her dark eyes gleamed with a new
excitement. She had relaxed her dominion of herself, and was allowing
the natural triumphant woman in her to have its day. For once in her
life she forgot everything of sorrow and care, and permitted herself to
rejoice in her own beauty and its effect upon the world before her.

"Jee-hoshaphat!" was the first articulate word that the company heard,
from the hush which had fallen upon them; and then there was a chorus of
general admiration, in which all the ladies had their share. And only
the Crow h