id. "Will you excuse me just a minute? I'm
so very sorry." She glided towards the door, and threw a flying look
back. It was one of those social moments precious to those who are
escaping them.

Mrs. Tallents Smallpeace was smiling, Stephen frowning at his boots; Mr.
Purcey stared admiringly at Thyme, and Thyme, sitting very upright, was
calmly regarding the unfortunate Egregio Pozzi, who apparently could not
bring himself to speak.

When Cecilia found herself outside, she stood still a moment to compose
her nerves. Thyme had told her that Hilary was in the dining-room, and
wanted specially to see her.

As in most women of her class and bringing-up, Cecilia's qualities of
reticence and subtlety, the delicate treading of her spirit, were seen to
advantage in a situation such as this. Unlike Stephen, who had shown at
once that he had something on his mind, she received Hilary with that
exact shade of friendly, intimate, yet cool affection long established by
her as the proper manner towards her husband's brother. It was not quite
sisterly, but it was very nearly so. It seemed to say: 'We understand
each other as far as it is right and fitting that we should; we even
sympathise with the difficulties we have each of us experienced in
marrying the other's sister or brother, as the case may be. We know the
worst. And we like to see each other, too, because there are bars
between us, which make it almost piquant.'

Giving him her soft little hand, she began at once to talk of things
farthest from her heart. She saw that she was deceiving Hilary, and this
feather in the cap of her subtlety gave her pleasure. But her nerves
fluttered at once when he said: "I want to speak to you, Cis. You know
that Stephen and I had a talk yesterday, I suppose?"

Cecilia nodded.

"I have spoken to B.!"

"Oh!" Cecilia murmured. She longed to ask what Bianca had said, but did
not dare, for Hilary had his armour on, the retired, ironical look he
always wore when any subject was broached for which he was too sensitive.

She waited.

"The whole thing is distasteful to me," he said; "but I must do something
for this child. I can't leave her completely in the lurch."

Cecilia had an inspiration.

"Hilary," she said softly, "Mrs. Tallents Smallpeace is in the
drawing-room. She was just speaking of the girl to Stephen. Won't you
come in, and arrange with her quietly?"

Hilary looked at his sister-in-law for a moment without