ndsome woman, always dominated by an air of serious
preoccupation, sumptuously, but not tastefully dressed. In the social
struggle upwards, wealth was the only weapon she possessed, and wealth
without dexterity has been known to fail before this. She made efforts,
indeed, to imitate Mrs. Sinclair in the elegancies of menage, and to
pose as a woman of mind after the pattern of Mrs. Gradinger; but
the task first named required too much tact, and the other powers of
endurance which she did not possess.

"You'll have some tea, Mrs. Fothergill?" said the Marchesa. "It's so
good of you to have come."

"No, really, I can't take any tea; in fact, I couldn't take any lunch
out of vexation at having to put you off, my dear Marchesa."

"Oh, these accidents will occur. We were just discussing the best way of
getting round them," said the Marchesa. "Now, dear,"--speaking to Mrs.
Sinclair--"let's have your plan. Mrs. Gradinger has fastened like a
leech on the Canon and Mrs. Wilding, and won't hear a word of what you
have to say."

"Well, my scheme is just an amplification of your mathematical
illustrations, that we should all learn to cook for ourselves. I regard
it no longer as impossible, or even difficult, since you have informed
us that you are a mistress of the art. We'll start a new school of
cookery, and you shall teach us all you know."

"Ah, my dear Laura, you are like certain English women in the hunting
field. You are inclined to rush your fences," said the Marchesa with a
deprecatory gesture. "And just look at the people gathered here in
this room. Wouldn't they--to continue the horsey metaphor--be rather an
awkward team to drive?"

"Not at all, if you had them in suitable surroundings. Now, supposing
some beneficent millionaire were to lend us for a month or so a nice
country house, we might install you there as Mistress of the stewpans,
and sit at your feet as disciples," said Mrs. Sinclair.

"The idea seems first-rate," said Van der Roet; "and I suppose, if we
are good little boys and girls, and learn our lessons properly, we may
be allowed to taste some of our own dishes."

"Might not that lead to a confusion between rewards and punishments?"
said Sir John.

"If ever it comes to that," said Miss Macdonnell with a mischievous
glance out of a pair of dark, flashing Celtic eyes, "I hope that our
mistress will inspect carefully all pupils' work before we are asked
to eat it. I don't want to sit down to another