she were to
fight him, she must bring her reserves into action.

"By the way, I'm so sorry you couldn't see my mother when you called the
other day. She's not at all well, unhappily. She really wants to see
you."

"How very kind of Lady Tristram!" There was kept for the mother a little
of the sarcastic humility which was more appropriate when directed
against the son. Harry smiled still as he turned round and began to
escort her back to the lawn. The smile annoyed Mina; it was a smile of
victory. Well, the victory should not be altogether his.

"I want to see Lady Tristram very much," she went on, in innocent tones
and with a face devoid of malice, "because I can't help thinking I must
have seen her before--when I was quite a little girl."

"You've seen my mother before? When and where?"

"She was Mrs Fitzhubert, wasn't she?"

"Yes, of course she was--before she came into the title."

"Well, a Mrs Fitzhubert used to come and see my mother long ago at
Heidelberg. Do you know if your mother was ever at Heidelberg?"

"I fancy she was--I'm not sure."

Still the Imp was very innocent, although the form of Harry's reply
caused her inward amusement and triumph.

"My mother was Madame de Kries. Ask Lady Tristram if she remembers the
name."

It was a hit for her at last, though Harry took it well. He turned
quickly toward her, opened his lips to speak, repented, and did no more
than give her a rather long and rather intense look. Then he nodded
carelessly. "All right, I'll ask her," said he. The next moment he put a
question. "Did you know about having met her before you came to
Merrion?"

"Oh well, I looked in the 'Peerage,' but it really didn't strike me till
a day or two ago that it might be the same Mrs Fitzhubert. The name's
pretty common, isn't it?"

"No, it's very uncommon."

"Oh, I didn't know," murmured Mina apologetically; but the glance which
followed him as he turned away was not apologetic; it was triumphant.

She got back in time to witness--to her regret (let it be confessed) she
could not overhear--Janie's farewell to Bob Broadley. They had been
friends from youth; he was "Bob" to her, she was now to him "Miss
Janie."

"You haven't said a word to me, Bob."

"I haven't had a chance; you're always with the swells now."

"How can I help it, if--if nobody else comes?"

"I really shouldn't have the cheek. Harry Tristram was savage enough
with the Major--what would he have been with me?"

"W