citing. But
you'll help me through, won't you?"

And the wrinkled face and harsh lips fell into a contortion meant for a
confidential smile; while through it all the eyes, wholly independent,
studied the face beside her--closely, suspiciously--until the owner of
it in her discomfort could almost have repeated aloud the words that
were ringing in her mind--"I shall <i>not</i> go to Lady Parham's! My note
will reach her on the stroke of eight."

"Certainly--I will keep an eye on her!" she said, lightly. "But you
know--since her illness--"

"Oh no!" said Lady Parham, impatiently, "she is very well--very well
indeed. I never saw her look so radiant. By-the-way, did you hear your
son's speech the other night? I did not see you in the gallery. A great
pity if you missed it. It was admirable."

Lady Tranmore replied regretfully that she had not been there, and that
she had not been able to have a word with him about it since.

"Oh, he knows he did well," said Lady Parham, carelessly. "They all do.
Lord Parham was delighted. He could do nothing but talk about it at
dinner. He says they were in a very tight place, and Mr. Ashe got them
out."

Lady Tranmore expressed her gratification with all the dignity she could
command, conscious meanwhile that her companion was not listening to a
word, absorbed as she was in a hawklike examination of the room through
a pair of gold-rimmed eye-glasses.

Suddenly the eye-glasses fell with a rattle.

"Good Heavens!" cried Lady Parham. "Do you see who that is talking to
Mr. Loraine?"

Lady Tranmore looked, and at once perceived Geoffrey Cliffe in close
conversation with the leader of the Opposition. The lady beside her gave
an angry laugh.

"If Mr. Cliffe thinks he has done himself any good by these ridiculous
telegrams of his, he will find himself mistaken! People are perfectly
furious about them."

"Naturally," said Lady Tranmore. "Only that it is a pity to take him
seriously."

"Oh, I don't know. He has his following; unfortunately, some of our own
men are inclined to think that Parham should conciliate him. Ignore him,
I say. Behave as though he didn't exist. Ah! by-the-way"--the speaker
raised herself on tiptoe, and said, in an audacious undertone--"is it
true that he may possibly marry your cousin, Miss Lyster?"

Lady Tranmore kept a smiling composure. "Is it true that Lord Parham may
possibly give him an appointment?"

Lady Parham turned away in annoyance. "Is that one