'E wasn't strong for Lydy Elling's set; they was a bit too stiff for
'im. A free an' easy gentleman, 'e was; 'e liked 'is dinner with a few
friends an' them jolly, but 'e wasn't much on what you might call big
affairs. But once 'e went in for Lydy Elling 'e broke 'imself to new
paces; He give away 'is rings an' pins, an' the tylor's man an' the
'aberdasher's man was at 'is rooms continual. 'E got 'imself put up
for a club in Piccadilly; 'e starved 'imself thin, an' worrited 'imself
white, an' ironed 'imself out, an' drawed 'imself tight as a bow string.
It was a good job 'e come a winner, or I don't know w'at'd 'a been to
pay."

The next week, in consequence of an invitation from Lady Ellen
Treffinger, MacMaster went one afternoon to take tea with her. He was
shown into the garden that lay between the residence and the studio,
where the tea table was set under a gnarled pear tree. Lady Ellen rose
as he approached--he was astonished to note how tall she was-and greeted
him graciously, saying that she already knew him through her sister.
MacMaster felt a certain satisfaction in her; in her reassuring poise
and repose, in the charming modulations of her voice and the indolent
reserve of her full, almond eyes. He was even delighted to find her
face so inscrutable, though it chilled his own warmth and made the open
frankness he had wished to permit himself impossible. It was a long
face, narrow at the chin, very delicately featured, yet steeled by an
impassive mask of self-control. It was behind just such finely cut,
close-sealed faces, MacMaster reflected, that nature sometimes hid
astonishing secrets. But in spite of this suggestion of hardness he
felt that the unerring taste that Treffinger had always shown in larger
matters had not deserted him when he came to the choosing of a wife, and
he admitted that he could not himself have selected a woman who looked
more as Treffinger's wife should look.

While he was explaining the purpose of his frequent visits to the studio
she heard him with courteous interest. "I have read, I think, everything
that has been published on Sir Hugh Treffinger's work, and it seems to
me that there is much left to be said," he concluded.

"I believe they are rather inadequate," she remarked vaguely. She
hesitated a moment, absently fingering the ribbons of her gown, then
continued, without raising her eyes; "I hope you will not think me too
exacting if I ask to see the proofs of such chapters