ho
departed making faces at us over his shoulder.

"You look very grand and nice," I said to Lady Ragnall as we followed
the others at a discreet distance.

"I am glad," she answered, "as to the nice, I mean. As for the grand,
that dreadful woman is always writing to me about the Ragnall diamonds,
so I thought that she should see some of them for the first and last
time. Do you know I haven't worn these things since George and I went to
Court together, and I daresay shall never wear them again, for there is
only one ornament I care for and I have got _that_ on under my dress."

I stared and her and with a laugh said that she was very mischievous.

"I suppose so," she replied, "but I detest those people who are pompous
and rude and have spoiled my party. Do you know I had half a mind to
come down in the dress that I wore as Isis in Kendah Land. I have got it
upstairs and you shall see me in it before you go, for old time's sake.
Only it occurred to me that they might think me mad, so I didn't. Dr.
Jeffreys, will you say grace, please?"

Well, it was a most agreeable dinner so far as I was concerned, for I
sat between my hostess and Mrs. Scroope and the rest were too far off
for conversation. Moreover as Archibald developed an unexpected quantity
of small talk, and Scroope on the other side amused himself by filling
pink-bow Miss Smith's innocent mind with preposterous stories about
Africa, as had happened to me once before at this table, Lady Ragnall
and I were practically left undisturbed.

"Isn't it strange that we should find ourselves sitting here again after
all these years, except that you are in my poor mother's place? Oh! when
that scientific gentleman convinced me the other day that you whom I had
heard were dead, were not only alive and well but actually in England,
really I could have embraced him."

I thought of an answer but did not make it, though as usual she read my
mind for I saw her smile.

"The truth is," she went on, "I am an only child and really have no
friends, though of course being--well, you know," and she glanced at the
jewels on her breast, "I have plenty of acquaintances."

"And suitors," I suggested.

"Yes," she replied blushing, "as many as Penelope, not one of whom
cares twopence about me any more than I care for them. The truth is, Mr.
Quatermain, that nobody and nothing interest me, except a spot in the
churchyard yonder and another amid ruins in Egypt."

"You have had sad b