. It was dull for a young
man with only his mother in the house. Let him amuse himself with this
pretty girl. A few days flirtation would put him in good humour, and
there was no danger of anything serious. Geoffrey never _was_ serious.
His flirtations could be counted by the score, but they held no
connection with his future marriage. That must be a serious business
arrangement, involving a name, a fortune, possibly a title; many
tangible qualities would be demanded from the future mistress of the
Manor.

Madame went through life regarding every person and thing from her own
personal standpoint; apart from herself they ceased to interest. She
would be affectionate and gushing to Elma Ramsden so long as the girl
remained a guest under her roof; when she returned to The Holt she would
promptly fade out of recollection. That a broken heart might be among
the impedimenta which she would carry away with her, was a possibility
which never once entered into the calculation. A typical Society woman!
Verily, Goody Ramsden's fears were not built without a foundation!

An hour later Madame was driving out of her own gates, while Geoffrey
was installed on her seat by the invalid's couch. A whole hour and a
half still remained before the gong would sound the summons to luncheon;
an hour and a half of solitude beneath the shadow of the trees! Last
night there had been another _tete-a-tete_ while Madame and Captain
Guest played piquet at the end of the room; this morning there had been
yet another, when Elma was first installed in the garden, and Madame was
interviewing her staff. Astonishing how intimate two people can become
in two long conversations! Marvellous in what unison two separate minds
may move! Geoffrey and Elma seemed constantly to be discovering fresh
subjects on which they thought alike, longed alike, hoped, grieved,
joyed, failed and fought, in precisely the same interesting fashion!
Each discovery was a fresh joy, a fresh surprise. "Do you really?"
"Why, so do I!" "How strange it seems!" In the garden of Eden these
surprises grow on every bush!

Elma's heart was hopelessly out of keeping, but conscience still fought
feebly against temptation. She had been trained to consider no man
worthy of her regard who did not attend Saint Nathaniel's Parish Church,
eschew amusements, wear a blue ribbon in his coat, belong to the Anti-
Tobacco League, and vote with the Conservative Party! In the watches of
t