line
lives for self-respect, I think. And Beryl lives for life. Caroline
refuses, but Beryl accepts with both hands."

"Then she will probably accept a husband some day."

Suddenly Lady Sellingworth changed her manner. She leaned forward
towards the world's governess, smiled at him, and said, half
satirically, half confidentially:

"Now what is it you have in the back of your mind?"

Braybrooke was slightly taken aback. He coughed and half closed his
eyes, then gently pulled up his perfectly creased trousers, taking hold
of them just above the knees.

"I really don't think--" he began.

"You and I are old friends. Do tell me."

He certainly had not come intending to be quite frank, and this sudden
attack rather startled him.

"You have formed some project," she continued. "I know it. Now let me
guess what it is."

"But I assure you--"

"You have found someone whom you think would suit Beryl as a husband.
Isn't that it?"

"Well, I don't know. I confess it had just occurred to me that with her
beauty, her cleverness, and her money--for one has to think of money,
unfortunately in these difficult days--she would be a very desirable
wife for a rising ambitious man."

"No doubt. And who is he?"

It was against all Braybrooke's instincts to burst out abruptly into
the open. He scarcely knew what to do. But he was sufficiently sharp to
realize that Lady Sellingworth already knew the answer to her question.
So he made a virtue of necessity and replied:

"It had merely occurred to me, after noting young Craven's enthusiasm
about her beauty and cleverness, that he might suit her very well. He
must marry and marry well if he wishes to rise high in the diplomatic
career."

"Oh, but some very famous diplomatists have been bachelors," she said,
still smiling.

She mentioned two or three.

"Yes, yes, I know, I know," he rejoined. "But it is really a great
handicap. If anyone needs a brilliant wife it is an ambassador."

"You think Mr. Craven is destined to become an ambassador?"

"I don't see why not--in the fullness of time, of course. Perhaps you
don't know how ambitious and hard-working he is."

"I know really very little about him."

"His abilities are excellent. Learington has a great opinion of him."

"And so you think Beryl would suit him!"

"It just occurred to me. I wouldn't say more than that. I have a horror
of matchmaking."

"Of course. Like all of us! Well, you may be right. She seemed to l