back to the
unrivalled other aunt again with the intensest satisfaction.

But of late the prospect of going back, or living with any aunt at
all, had receded into at least a middle distance. There was no doubt
in her own mind (though she liked the absence of doubt to be endorsed
by her cousin) that Lord Lindfield had been extremely attentive to her
for the last month or so. He had committed dreadful social crimes,
such as throwing over an engagement already made and nearly due, when
he found that she would be at some house to which he was subsequently
invited. And somehow (that was the charm of him, or part or it),
though he upset dinner-tables right and left, nobody really minded.
Match-making London, which includes the larger part of that
marriageable city, even when they were personally affronted and
inconvenienced, smiled sympathetically when they heard what his
movements on the night he ought to have dined with them had been. He
did even worse than that; he had once, indeed, omitted to send the
excuse of a subsequent engagement, and everybody had waited a quarter
of an hour for him to put in a belated appearance. And when he did not
his hostess had remarked that he must be "picking daisies," and the
procession had gone dinner-wards with a widowed girl.

It turned out to be true, did this conjecture of the hostess. He had
dined "quietly" that night at Lady Nottingham's, and had played "old
maid" afterwards, as bridge was universally voted to be far too
intellectual. And Daisy took huge pleasure in such facts as these,
stealthily conveyed to her by one if not more of her innumerable girl
friends. For though there was no doubt that many dutiful mothers would
have liked their daughters to marry Lord Lindfield, yet when he
declared himself by signs as unmistakable as this, they neither felt nor
communicated any ill-humour.

He was picking daisies; very well, the sooner he plucked the particular
one the better. Daisy was so pleasant; no wonder, after all, that he
wished for her. And she too, quite soon, would join the ranks of the
match-makers, and be immensely kind to everybody else. Yet if only Katie
or Elsie or Nellie---- But it was no use thinking about that. Daisy,
once settled, would certainly do her best for those to whom fortune must
pay a "subsequent" visit.

Lady Nottingham purred approval over the girls on their punctual return,
before any of her guests had arrived. She was rather stout and very
comforta