s her motto, which had proved true in so many
instances that she fancied she had only to meet the haughty Lady Jane
face to face and conquer her also. And yet she did feel a little nervous
when, as the hour for the train drew near, she went to her room and
commenced her toilet for dinner.

"Let me see," she murmured: "they have undoubtedly heard that I am a
brazen face and a minx, and awfully extravagant and flashy in style; so
simplicity in dress and modesty of demeanor will best suit me now. I
must not wear my paste diamonds, for though I've no idea Lady Jane can
tell them from the real, she would think them far too expensive for
people in our circumstances, and wonder how I got them."

So the false diamonds were put aside, as was everything else which could
awaken an inquiry as to its cost, and a simple blue muslin was chosen,
with ruching at the neck and nothing on the sleeves, which were rather
wide and showed to good advantage the beautifully rounded arms and
hands, of which Daisy was so proud. Her golden curls were gathered in a
shining mass at the back of her head and fastened with a comb of pink
coral, Lord Hardy's gift, when he was in Naples with her. At her throat
she wore a blush rose and another in her belt, with no jewelry of any
kind, except her wedding ring, and Bessie's turquois, which she still
appropriated. Nothing could be simpler than her whole dress, and nothing
more becoming, for it gave her a sweet girlish look, which she knew
always produced an effect.

Meanwhile the expected guests had arrived, and Daisy heard them in the
hall as they took possession of the room opposite hers. Lady Jane was
very tired, and hot, and dusty, for she had come from Edinburgh that
day, and she glanced around her luxurious apartment with a feeling of
comfort and relief, as she issued her orders to her maid, Lydia, and
talked to her husband.

"Open the little trunk, Lydia, and take out my pearl-colored grenadine;
I cannot wear a heavy silk to-night; and find my Valenciennes fichu and
my small diamonds, I don't suppose there is any one in particular here,
unless it is Lady Oakley, and she, I presume has the room opposite this.
She did, the last time we were here. John, we are really very
comfortable. Mrs. Smithers knows how to keep up an attractive house, and
is a charming woman, though, of course, not quite to the manner born.
Was her father an iron monger, or what?"

"He was a wholesale merchant, and worth a mint