earances he ever made," sighed Lady
Evenswood.

"She's a lady, though."

"Oh, yes. That's what makes it so funny. If she weren't----"

"Yes, it would all be natural enough."

"But we've been wasting your time, Mr Tristram."

"Never less wasted since I was born," protested Harry, who had both
enjoyed and learnt.

"No, really I think not," she agreed, smiling. "Flora has her power."

The remark grated on him; he wanted nothing of Flora and her power; it
was indeed rather an unfortunate introduction to the business of the
afternoon; it pointed Harry's quills a little. Lady Evenswood, with a
quick perception, tried to retrieve the observation.

"But she likes people who are independent best," she went on. "So does
Robert, if it comes to that. Indeed he never does a job for anyone."

"Carries that too far in my opinion," commented Southend. The moment for
diplomacy approached.

But when it came to the point, Lady Evenswood suavely took the task out
of his hands. Her instinct told her that she could do it best; he soon
came to agree. She had that delicacy which he desired but lacked; she
could claim silence when he must have suffered interruption; she could
excuse her interference on the ground of old friendship; she could plead
an interest which might seem impertinent in him. Above all, she could be
elusively lucid and make herself understood without any bluntness of
statement.

"If it could be so managed that the whole miserable accident should be
blotted out and forgotten!" she exclaimed, as though she implored a
personal favor.

"How can that be?" asked Harry. "I was in, and I am out, Lady
Evenswood."

"You're out, and your cousin's in, yes." Harry's eyes noted the words
and dwelt on her face. "She can't be happy in that state of affairs
either."

"Perhaps not," he admitted. "Facts are facts, though."

"There are ways--ways of preventing that," Southend interposed,
murmuring vaguely.

"I don't know how you'll feel about it, but we all think you ought to
consider other things besides your personal preferences. Might I tell Mr
Disney--no, one moment, please! Our idea, I mean, was that there might
be a family arrangement. A moment, please, Mr Tristram! I don't mean, by
which she would lose what she has----"

"But that I should get it?"

"Well, yes. Oh, I know your feelings. But they would cease to exist if
you came to her on an equality, with what is really and truly your
proper position recognized a