sh to
devote several hours to dressing."

She nodded. "Such a dream of a gown! Nina's present! You'll see it. I
hope Gerald will be here to see it. He promised. You'll say you like it
if you do like it, won't you?"

"I'll say it, anyway."

"Oh, well--if you are contented to be commonplace like other men--"

"I've no ambition to be different at my age."

"Your age?" she repeated, looking up quickly. "You are as young as Nina,
aren't you? Half the men in the younger set are no younger than you--and
you know it," she concluded--"you are only trying to make me say so--and
you've succeeded. I'm not very experienced yet. Does tea bring wisdom,
Captain Selwyn?" pouring herself a cup. "I'd better arm myself
immediately." She sank back into the depths of the chair, looking gaily
at him over her lifted cup. "To my rapid education in worldly wisdom!"
She nodded, and sipped the tea almost pensively.

He certainly did seem young there in the firelight, his narrow,
thoroughbred head turned toward the fire. Youth, too, sat lightly on his
shoulders; and it was scarcely a noticeably mature hand that touched the
short sun-burnt moustache at intervals. From head to waist, from his
loosely coupled, well-made limbs to his strong, slim foot, strength
seemed to be the keynote to a physical harmony most agreeable to look
at.

The idea entered her head that he might appear to advantage on
horseback.

"We must ride together," she said, returning her teacup to the tray; "if
you don't mind riding with me? Do you? Gerald never has time, so I go
with a groom. But if you would care to go--" she laughed. "Oh, you see I
am already beginning a selfish family claim on you. I foresee that
you'll be very busy with us all persistently tugging at your
coat-sleeves; and what with being civil to me and a martyr to Drina,
you'll have very little time to yourself. And--I hope you'll like my
brother Gerald when you meet him. Now I _must_ go."

Then, rising and partly turning to collect her furs:

"It's quite exciting to have you here. We will be good friends, won't
we? . . . and I think I had better stop my chatter and go, because my
cunning little Alsatian maid is not very clever yet. . . . Good-bye."

She stretched out one of her amazingly white hands across the table,
giving him a friendly leave-taking and welcome all in one frank
handshake; and left him standing there, the fresh contact still cool in
his palm.

Nina came in presently to find h