uncommon characteristic of after-dinner oratory. However he agreed with
Iver that everything was for the best, and that they were entitled to
congratulate their hostess and themselves on things at large. Then
Neeld had a turn over the engagement (a subject dull but safe!) and the
proceedings were stopped only by Bob Broadley's headlong flight when the
question of his response arose.

"Thank goodness, that's over!" said Mina snappishly, as she stepped out
into the garden, followed by Mr Neeld. The rest went off to see the
treasures of the Long Gallery. Mina turned to him with a quick question:
"You saw Mr Tristram, how is he?"

"Harry Tristram is quite well and in very good spirits. I never saw a
man better in my life."

Mina was silent for a moment. Then she broke out: "I call it disgusting.
He's in good spirits, and she's in good spirits, and--and there's an end
of it, I suppose! The next thing will be----"

"It's not the end if there's a next thing," Neeld suggested timidly.

"Oh, don't be tiresome. The next thing'll be some stupid girl for him
and some idiot of a man for her. How I wish I'd never come to Merrion!"

"Don't despair; things may turn out better than you think."

"They can't," she declared fretfully. "I shall go away."

"What a pity! Miss Gainsborough--Lady Tristram, I mean--will miss you so
much."

"Let her!" said the Imp ungraciously. "I've put myself out enough about
the Tristrams."

Neeld forbore to remind her of the entirely voluntary nature of her
sacrifices; after all he was not the man to throw stones on that
account.

"Wait a few days anyhow," he urged her. In a few days something must
happen.

"A few days? Oh, yes!" As a matter of fact she meant to stay all the
winter. "She's started," she went on, with an irritated jerk of her head
toward the Long Gallery, "putting all the things in different places
and rearranging everything."

"I should imagine that Mr Gainsborough's enjoying himself then?"

"She doesn't let him touch a thing," replied Mina with a fleeting smile.
"He just stands about with a duster. That contents him well enough,
though. Oh, yes, I shall go. The Broadleys won't care about me, and
Cecily won't want me long."

Neeld could give real comfort only at the price of indiscretion.
Moreover he was not at all sure that a disclosure of the truth would
bring any comfort, for Mina wanted to be on both sides and to harmonize
devotion to Cecily with zeal for Harry. Neeld d