r, waived the question and became hospitable.

"Do let me persuade you to have a toasted bun. Our baker makes them in a
special way on purpose for me. There's nothing in the world more
sensible with one's tea than a small toasted currant bun. I was speaking
to Dr. Gribling about it only the other day, oddly enough, and he quite
agreed with me."

"Why _only the other day_? and why _oddly enough_, Millie?--I dare say
you speak to him constantly about it and about other equally urgent
matters." She spoke with what she meant to be a slight sneer, in reply
to which Miss Westbury behaved in a manner that is sometimes described
as bridling up. She gave a movement meant to be a toss of the head and
placed her lips firmly together.

"I like Dr. Gribling, Isabella, because he's a thoroughly sensible
man--a man you can say anything to."

Mrs. Wyburn thought that Miss Westbury would say anything to any one,
and she shrewdly suspected that Millie was probably the one gleam of
amusement in poor old Dr. Gribling's dreary round. However, she waved
the eminent physician aside and said--

"About Valentia. She and Romer have gone down to the country, you know."

"Oh, indeed! Quite early to go. Very nice. Have they a large party
there, do you know? The Green Gate is such a charming place--so
picturesque."

"Have you ever seen it?" Mrs. Wyburn asked.

"Only in the _Daily Mail_--I mean accounts of week-ends there, and that
sort of thing. But I believe it's quite charming. It seems almost a pity
though, doesn't it, at the end of the season to begin the same
frivolities and gaieties all over again. I wonder they don't take a
little rest."

"I believe they are resting. Valentia wrote to me that no one was
staying there at all, except, of course, Daphne."

"And Harry de Freyne?"

"Yes, and Mr. de Freyne."

"Strange," said Miss Westbury comfortably. "Curious that extraordinary
infatuation of your--son for this young man. But he's a very charming
man, isn't he? Most agreeable?"

"He's not absolutely unpleasant."

"I suppose he brightens them up--amuses them? Probably he has very high
spirits. Perhaps he has the _jar de veev_." Miss Westbury had a private
pronunciation of foreign expressions all her own. "It is unfortunate,
but do you know one often sees that in unprincipled people, Isabella."

"He knows that he's not quite a gentleman, and is trying to laugh it
off," said Mrs. Wyburn.

"Does he really? Dear, dear--what a sad t