abinet, some exquisite coloured engravings, an ormolu mirror
and a couple of large French vases that set Miss Sharsper, who had a
keen eye for this traffic, confusedly cataloguing. And a little
incongruously in the midst of this exhibit, stood Lady Harman, as if she
was trying to conceal the fact that she too was a visitor, in a creamy
white dress and dark and defensive and yet entirely unabashed.

The great butler gave his large vague impression of Lady
Beach-Mandarin's name, and stood aside and withdrew.

"I've heard so much of you," said Lady Beach-Mandarin advancing with
hand upraised. "I had to call. Mr. Brumley----"

"Lady Beach-Mandarin met Sir Isaac at Black Strand," Mr. Brumley
intervened to explain.

Miss Sharsper was as it were introduced by default.

"My vividest anticipations outdone," said Lady Beach-Mandarin, squeezing
Lady Harman's fingers with enthusiasm. "And what a charming garden you
have, and what a delightful situation! Such air! And on the very verge
of London, high, on this delightful _literary_ hill, and ready at any
moment to swoop in that enviable great car of yours. I suppose you come
a great deal into London, Lady Harman?"

"No," reflected Lady Harman, "not very much." She seemed to weigh the
accuracy of this very carefully. "No," she added in confirmation.

"But you should, you ought to; it's your duty. You've no right to hide
away from us. I was telling Sir Isaac. We look to him, we look to you.
You've no right to bury your talents away from us; you who are rich and
young and brilliant and beautiful----"

"But if I go on I shall begin to flatter you," said Lady Beach-Mandarin
with a delicious smile. "I've begun upon Sir Isaac already. I've made
him promise a hundred guineas and his name to the Shakespear Dinners
Society,--nothing he didn't mention eaten (_you_ know) and all the
profits to the National movement--and I want your name too. I know
you'll let us have your name too. Grant me that, and I'll subside into
the ordinariest of callers."

"But surely; isn't his name enough?" asked Lady Harman.

"Without yours, it's only half a name!" cried Lady Beach-Mandarin. "If
it were a _business_ thing----! Different of course. But on my list, I'm
like dear old Queen Victoria you know, the wives must come too."

"In that case," hesitated Lady Harman.... "But really I think Sir
Isaac----"

She stopped. And then Mr. Brumley had a psychic experience. It seemed to
him as he stood observi