to move of one's own volition again, and not
to be taken like a parcel in a van from one end of Europe to the other.
And how delicious also it was to be clean, to have revelled in soap and
water, instead of being coated and pelted at by dust and coal-grime! On
the surface of life this was all pleasant; it all added to her sense of
security and well-being.

She had enjoyed a charming evening, which was not nearly over yet, since
Alice was coming to her room for a talk--no little talk, no few
good-night words, but a real long talk, which should wipe off the
arrears of a twelve months' abstinence. Alice had demurred at first,
saying she knew that journeys were fatiguing things, but Mrs. Halton had
truthfully said that she had never felt less tired. For when one is
happy there is no time to be fatigued; being happy engrosses the whole
attention. It was early yet also, scarcely after ten, for two or three
old friends only, a party of women, had dined, and these had gone away
early, with the fatigue of the traveller in their minds. Mrs. Halton had
let that pass; the fact was that to-night she wanted above all things to
talk to Lady Nottingham. There was one thing--a very big one--which she
meant to tell her, and there was also a great deal she wished to learn.

Lady Nottingham followed her after a minute or two; and a maid bearing a
tray with an enormous jug of hot water and a glass followed Lady
Nottingham, for she was one of those people who seem to keep permanently
young by always doing the latest thing. Just now there was a revival of
hot-water drinking, and with avidity (as if it tasted nice) Lady
Nottingham drank hot water.

"Excellent thing, Jeannie," she said. "Can't I persuade you to try?
You dear person, I don't know that I will even attempt to. It might
have some effect on you, and I don't want anything to have any effect
on you. I prefer you exactly as you are. Now I want to make myself
quite comfortable, in order that I may enjoy myself as much as
possible, and then you shall tell me all that has happened to you this
last year.--No, Hendon, you needn't wait up. Yes; plenty of hot
water. Go to bed."

"Let me pull the blinds up and open the windows," said Jeannie; "I want
to let London in. Ah! Clip-clop! Clip-clop! Girls and boys going to
dances, and falling in love with one another, and keeping the world
young. God bless them!"

She leant out into the soft warm night a moment, and then turned back
into the