y engaging a
chaperone,--a "dear old English lady of title," as she had described
her to the Marchese Rivardi. Lady Kingswood merited the description
thus given of her, for she was distinctly a dear old English lady, and
her title was the least thing about her, especially in her own opinion.
There was no taint of snobbery in her simple, kindly disposition, and
when her late husband, a distinguished military officer, had been
knighted for special and splendid service in the war, she had only
deplored that the ruin of his health and disablement by wounds,
prevented him from taking any personal pleasure in the "honour." His
death followed soon after the King's recognition of his merit, and she
was left with his pension to live upon, and a daughter who having
married in haste repented at leisure, being deserted by a drunken
husband and left with two small children to nourish and educate.
Naturally, Lady Kingswood took much of their care upon herself--but the
pension of a war widow will not stretch further than a given point, and
she found it both necessary and urgent to think of some means by which
she could augment her slender income. She was not a clever woman,--she
had no special talents,--her eyes would not stand her in good stead for
plain sewing, and she could not even manage a typing machine. But she
had exquisitely gentle manners,--she was well-bred and tactful, and,
rightly judging that good-breeding and tact are valuable assets in some
quarters of the "new" society, she sought, through various private
channels, for a post as companion or "chaperone" to "one lady." Just
when she was rather losing hope as to the success of her effort, the
"one lady" came along in the elfin personality of Morgana Royal, who,
after a brief interview in London, selected her with a decision as
rapid as it was inexplicable, offering her a salary of five hundred a
year, which to Lady Kingswood was a small fortune.

"You will have nothing to do but just be pleasant!" Morgana had told
her, smilingly, "And enjoy your self as you like. Of course I do not
expect to be controlled or questioned,--I am an independent woman, and
go my own way, but I'm not at all 'modern.' I don't drink or smoke or
'dope,' or crave for male society. I think you'll find yourself all
right!"

And Lady Kingswood had indeed "found herself all right." Her own
daughter had never been so thoughtful for her comfort as Morgana was,
and she became day by day more intereste