his confidence and I am his emissary."

"Oh, you Bowens, you Bowens!" moaned Patricia in mock despair.

"There is no avoiding us, I confess," said Lady Tanagra gaily. "Now I
must tell you about your charming aunt. She called upon mother
yesterday."

"What!" gasped Patricia.

"She called at Grosvenor Square and announced to poor, un-understanding
mother that she thought the families ought to know one another. But
she got rather badly shocked by Godfrey and one of the soldier boys,
whom we call 'Uncle,' and left with the firm conviction that our circle
is a pernicious one."

"It's--it's--perfectly scandalous!" cried Patricia.

"No, it's not as bad as that," said Lady Tanagra calmly.

"What?" began Patricia. "Oh! I mean Aunt Adelaide's conduct, it's
humiliating, it's----"

"Wait until you hear," said Lady Tanagra with a smile. "When Peter ran
in to see mother, she said that she had had a call from a Miss Brent
and could he place her. So poor old Peter blurts out that he's going
to marry Miss Brent. Poor mother nearly had a fit on the spot. She
was too tactful to express her disapproval; but she showed it in her
amazement. The result was that Peter was deeply hurt and left the room
and the house. I am the only one who saw the exquisite humour of the
joke. My poor darling mother had the impression that Peter has gone
clean off his head and wanted to marry your most excellent Aunt
Adelaide," and Lady Tanagra laughed gaily.

For a moment Patricia gazed at her blankly, then as she visualised Aunt
Adelaide and Bowen side by side at the altar she laughed hysterically.

"I kept mother in suspense for quite a long time. Then I told her, and
I also rang up Peter and told him. And now I must fly," cried Lady
Tanagra. "I will be here at a quarter to eight, and if you are not
ready I shall be angry; but if you have locked yourself in your room I
shall batter down the door. We are going to have a very happy evening
and you will enjoy yourself immensely. I think it quite likely that
Godfrey will fall in love with you as well as Peter, which will still
further increase your embarrassments." Then with a sudden change of
mood she said, "Please cheer up, Patricia, happiness is not a thing to
be taken lightly. You have been a little overwrought of late, and now,
good-bye."

"One moment, please," said Patricia. "Don't you understand that
nothing can possibly be built up on such a foundation as--as----?"

"Your