n before
Goodwood."

"Well, I like that," Engleton remarked. "Forrest's a lot keener on
these social functions than I am. As a matter of fact I am for the
tour, on one condition."

"And that?" the Princess asked.

"That you come in my car," Lord Ronald answered. "I haven't really had
a chance to try it yet, but it's a sixty horse Mercedes, and it's
fitted up for touring. Take the lot of us easy, luggage and everything."

"I think it would be perfectly delightful," the Princess declared. "Do
you really mean it?"

"Of course I do," Lord Ronald answered. "It's too hot for town, and I'm
rather great on rusticating, myself."

"I think this is charming," the Princess declared. "Here we have one of
our friends with a car and another with a house. But seriously, Cecil,
we mustn't think of coming to you. There would be too many of us."

"The more the better," Cecil said eagerly. "If you really want to
attempt anything in the shape of a rest-cure, I can recommend my home
thoroughly. I am afraid," he added, with a shrug of the shoulders,
"that I cannot recommend it for anything else."

"A rest," the Princess declared, "is exactly what we want. Life here is
becoming altogether too strenuous. We started the season a little
early. I am perfectly certain that we could not possibly last till the
end. Until I arrived in London with an heiress under my charge, I had
no idea that I was such a popular person."

The girl who was sitting on the other side of their host spoke almost
for the first time. She was evidently quite young, and her pale cheeks,
dark full eyes, and occasional gestures, indicated clearly enough
something foreign in her nationality. She addressed no one in
particular, but she looked toward Forrest.

"That is one of the things," she said, "which puzzles me. I do not
understand it at all. It seems as though every one is liked or
disliked, here in London at any rate, according to the amount of money
they have."

"Upon my word, Miss Jeanne, it isn't so with every one," Lord Ronald
interposed hastily.

She glanced at him indifferently.

"There may be exceptions," she said. "I am speaking of the great
number."

"For Heaven's sake, child, don't be cynical!" the Princess remarked.
"There is no worse pose for a child of your age."

"It is not a pose at all," Jeanne answered calmly. "I do not want to be
cynical, and I do not want to have unkind thoughts. But tell me, Lord
Ronald, honestly, do you think that e