oat, until now hidden by the V-shaped collar of her
soft lawn shirt, caught Henrietta's eye. Their size, lustre and worth
came near extracting a veritable shriek of enquiry and jealous admiration
from her. But with praiseworthy promptitude she stifled her astonishment
and now really rampant curiosity. Damaris but half yielded to her
blandishments. She must cajole more successfully before venturing to
request explanation. Therefore she cried, soothingly, coaxfully:

"There--there--descend from those imposing heights of solemnity, or upon
my word you will make me think my poor little visit displeases and bores
you. That would be peculiarly grievous to me, since it is, in all
probability, my last."

"Your last?" Damaris exclaimed.

"Yes, darling child, the fiat, alas! has gone forth. We are ordered away
and start for Cotteret-les-Bains in a day or two. Dr. Stewart-Walker
considers the move imperative on account of General Frayling's health.
This was only settled yesterday. Marshall would have rushed here to tell
you; but I forbade him. I felt I must tell you myself. I confess it is a
blow to me. Our tenancy of the Pavilion expires at the end of the month;
but I proposed asking for an extension, and, if that failed, taking up
our abode at the hotel for a while. To me Dr. Stewart-Walker's orders
come as a bitter disappointment, for I counted on remaining until
Easter--remaining just as long as you and Sir Charles and Carteret
remained, in fact."

Here the bloom, far from further extinction, warmed to a lovely blush.
Henrietta's curiosity craned its naughty neck standing on tiptoe. But,
the blush notwithstanding, Damaris looked at her with such sincerity of
quickening affection and of sympathy that she again postponed
cross-examination.

For over this piece of news our maiden could--in its superficial aspects
at all events--lament in perfect good faith. She proceeded to do so,
eagerly embracing the opportunity to offer thanks and praise. All
Henrietta's merits sprang into convincing evidence. Had not her
hospitality been unstinted--the whole English colony had cause to mourn.

"But for you they'd still be staring at one another, bristling like so
many strange dogs," Damaris said. "And you smoothed them all down so
divertingly. Oh! you were beautifully clever in that. It was a lesson in
the art of the complete hostess. While, as for me, Henrietta, you've
simply spoiled me. I can never thank you enough. Think of the amuse