that we at home would not touch with
a barge pole, and you say: 'Oh, they are just American,' as if we were
all the same! And then we are so awfully clever as a nation that in a
year or two these dreadful vulgarians, as we would call them in New
York, have picked up all _your_ outside polish, and pass as _our_ best!
It makes lots of the really nice old gentle-folk at home perfectly
mad--but I can't help admiring the spirit. That is why I have stuck to
Cis, though the rest of the family have given her the cold shoulder. It
is such magnificent audacity--don't you think so?"

"Yes, indeed," agreed Halcyone. "All people have a right to obtain what
they aspire to if they fit themselves for it."

"That is one of Mr. Derringham's pet theories," Cora laughed. "He held
forth one night, when I was staying at Wendover at Easter, about it--and
it was such fun. Cis did not really understand a single thing of the
classical allusions he was making--but she got through. I watch her with
delight. Men are sweetly simple bats, though, aren't they? Any woman can
take them in--" and Cora laughed again joyously. "I have sat sometimes
in fits to hear Cis keeping a whole group of your best politicians
enthralled, and not one seeing she is just repeating parrot sentences.
You have only to be rich and beautiful and look into a man's eyes and
flatter him, and you can make him believe you are what you please. Now
Freynie thinks I am absolutely perfect when I am really being a horrid
little capricious minx--don't you, Freynie, dear!" and she leaned over
and looked at her betrothed with sweet and tender eyes--and Lord
Freynault got up and moved his chair round, so that the four were in a
circle.

"What preposterous thing is Cora telling you?" he laughed, with an
adoring glance at her sparkling face. "But I am getting jealous, and
shall take her away because I want to talk to her all to myself!"

And, when they had settled that the two girls should meet at tea the
following day in Cora's sitting-room at Claridge's, where she was
staying with a friend, the newly engaged pair went off together beaming
with joy and affection.

And Halcyone gazed after them with a wistful look in her sad eyes, which
stabbed the old Professor's heart.

She was remembering the morning under their tree, when she and her lover
had sat and made their plans, and he had asked her if she had any fear
at the thought of giving him her future.

It was only three weeks ago.