was strange that she--or,
rather, Donna Laura--should admit such a person as Mademoiselle Ricci to
their <i>salon</i>.

The mother, indeed, that afternoon had much reason to be socially
grateful to the daughter. Curious contrast with the days when Kitty had
been the mere troublesome appendage of her mother's life! It was clear
to Marguerite d'Estrees now that if she was to accept restraint and
virtuous living, if she was to submit to this marriage she dreaded, yet
saw no way to escape, her best link with the gay world in the future
might well be through the Ashes. Kitty could do a great deal for her;
let her cultivate Kitty; and begin, perhaps, by convincing William Ashe
on this present occasion that for once she was not going to ask him for
money.

In the height of the party, Lord Magellan appeared. Madame d'Estrees at
first looked at him with bewilderment, till Kitty, shaking herself free,
came hastily forward to introduce him. At the name the mother's face
flashed into smiles. The ramifications of two or three aristocracies
represented the only subject she might be said to know. Dear Kitty!

Lord Magellan, after Madame d'Estrees had talked to him about his family
in a few light and skilful phrases, which suggested knowledge, while
avoiding flattery, was introduced to the Bavarian baron and a French
naval officer. But he was not interesting to them, nor they to him;
Kitty was surrounded and unapproachable; and a flood of new arrivals
distracted Madame d'Estrees' attention. The Ricci, who had noticed the
restrained <i>empressement</i> of his reception, pounced on the young man,
taming her ways and gestures to what she supposed to be his English
prudery, and produced an immediate effect upon him. Lord Magellan, who
was only dumb with English marriageable girls, allowed himself to be
amused, and threw himself into a low chair by the actress--a capture
apparently for the afternoon.

Louis Harman was sitting behind Kitty, a little to her right. He saw her
watching the actress and her companion; noticed a compression of the
lip, a flash in the eye. She sprang up, said she must go home, and
practically dissolved the party.

Mademoiselle Ricci, who had also risen, proposed to Lord Magellan that
she should take him in her gondola to the shop of a famous dealer on the
Canal.

"Thank you very much," said Lord Magellan, irresolute, and he looked at
Kitty. The look apparently decided him, for he immediately added that he
h