who walked for him, like some
brazen pagan goddess, in a cloud of queer legend. He looked off at her
child, who, at a distance and not hearing them, had not moved. "I know
she's a great friend of Nanda's."

"Has Nanda told you that?"

"Often--taking such an interest in her."

"I'm glad she thinks so then--though really her interests are so
various. But come to my baby. I don't make HER come," she explained as
she swept him along, "because I want you just to sit down by her there
and keep the place, as one may say--!"

"Well, for whom?" he demanded as she stopped. It was her step that had
checked itself as well as her tongue, and again, suddenly, they stood
quite consciously and vividly opposed. "Can I trust you?" the Duchess
brought out. Again then she took herself up. "But as if I weren't
already doing it! It's because I do trust you so utterly that I haven't
been able any longer to keep my hands off you. The person I want the
place for is none other than Mitchy himself, and half my occupation now
is to get it properly kept for him. Lord Petherton's immensely kind, but
Lord Petherton can't do everything. I know you really like our host--!"

Mr. Longdon, at this, interrupted her with a certain coldness. "How, may
I ask, do you know it?"

But with a brazen goddess to deal with--! This personage had to fix him
but an instant. "Because, you dear honest man, you're here. You wouldn't
be if you hated him, for you don't practically condone--!"

This time he broke in with his eyes on the child. "I feel on the
contrary, I assure you, that I condone a great deal."

"Well, don't boast of your cynicism," she laughed, "till you're sure of
all it covers. Let the right thing for you be," she went on, "that Nanda
herself wants it."

"Nanda herself?" He continued to watch little Aggie, who had never yet
turned her head. "I'm afraid I don't understand you."

She swept him on again. "I'll come to you presently and explain. I MUST
get my letter for Petherton; after which I'll give up Mitchy, whom I was
going to find, and since I've broken the ice--if it isn't too much to
say to such a polar bear!--I'll show you le fond de ma pensee. Baby
darling," she said to her niece, "keep Mr. Longdon. Show him," she
benevolently suggested, "what you've been reading." Then again to her
fellow guest, as arrested by this very question: "Caro signore, have YOU
a possible book?"

Little Aggie had got straight up and was holding out her volume