papers about what is good
for----"

"Sudden pains in the back on washing-day, bending over the tub, and so
forth? The portraits of the people before taking the remedy and after
decided me. It seems, by the pictures, to make your hair grow long and
give you whiskers and a ghastly squint. Ruins your clothes, too. Your
collars get the wrong shape."

"Oh well, leave it alone, then. Perhaps you're right.... You haven't
asked me about the Walmers' dance. I took Miss de Freyne to supper. The
American chap never turned up, and I was getting on with her simply
rippingly, when _what_ do you think she said? Confided in me that she
was privately engaged to and frightfully keen on that boy you met at
Harry's. The baby Guardsman. Isn't it sickening?"

"What did Miss Walmer do?" asked Vaughan.

"She sort of hung about, waiting for Harry, who seemed to be getting on
all right with the two strings to his bow, or two stools, or two bundles
of hay, or whatever it is. What luck some people have!"

"Not in this case. He'll lose them both."

"Really? Why?"

"He's not a diplomatist, and he wants such a lot for himself. He wants
too much. No self-restraint."

"Pretty useless for Mrs. Wyburn. I like her. She looked topping last
night, too. But I dare say it'll be all right. Romer's a good chap.
Awfully dull."

"Most interesting. Are you going to stay here much longer, Muir?"

"Why? Yes."

Vaughan got up.

"All right. Do. I'm going out."

"Where?"

Vaughan did not answer, but gave the heap of notices to his friend, and
said--

"Just divide the sheep and goats for me, will you? That's just what they
are, the critics--either sheep or goats."

"Of course I will. But, I say--I came here to have a talk."

"I know you did. You have talked."

He went out. Muir smiled to himself, enjoying this treatment as an
eccentricity of genius.

Five minutes later Gillie came back.

CHAPTER XXII

GILLIE INTERFERES

He was not much surprised to find Muir proudly examining the invitation
cards on the mantelpiece. Muir started and turned round as he came in.

"Back again? Capital!"

"Well, of all the snobs!" said Vaughan.

"Hang it, Gillie, it's only for you. I'm pleased you're getting on,
that's all."

"No words can tell you how I despise your point of view. Just tell me
something I want to know. Wasn't there a sort of little scene at this
dance last night?"

"I didn't see anything," he answered.

"You never do."

"