ond she
was of Clifford.

"He will be home soon for the Easter holidays. You must let him come and
stay with us."

"It's very kind of you, dear. Certainly he shall come, part of the time.
I can't bear to part with him--especially at first. Yes--at first I feel
I never want him to leave me again! However, he enjoys himself so much
here that I like to send him to you towards the end. He looks upon
Bertha quite like a playmate," she said to Madeline. Something about
Madeline reminded her of someone she had met.

"I was at a dinner-party last night where I met a young man I saw here
once, who took you in to dinner. He knows Percy--he was at Balliol with
Percy--a Mr. Denison--Mr. Rupert Denison. He seemed inclined to be
rather intellectual. He talked to me a great deal about something--I
forget what; but I know it was some subject: something that Percy once
had to pass an examination in. ... I can't remember what it was. I used
to know his mother; Mrs. Denison--a charming woman! I'm afraid though
she didn't leave him very well off. I wonder how he manages to make two
ends meet?"

"He manages all right; he makes them lap over, I should think. Who did
he take to dinner?" Bertha asked this in Madeline's interest.

"Oh, a girl I don't like at all, whom I often see about. She's always
everywhere. I daresay you know her, a Miss Chivvey, a Miss Moona
Chivvey--a good family, the Chivveys of Warwickshire. But she's rather
artistic-looking." (Lady Kellynch lowered her voice as if she were
saying something improper:) "She has untidy hair and green beads round
her neck. I don't like her--I don't like her style at all."

"I've heard him mention her," said Madeline.

"He talked to her a good deal in the evening, and he gave me the
impression that he was giving her some sort of lesson--a lecture on
architecture, or something. Well, dear, as Percy won't be in yet, I
think I'd better go. I have a round of visits to pay."

"Percy is going to write to you. He wants you to go to a concert with
him. He particularly wants you to go."

Lady Kellynch brightened up. "Dear boy, does he? Of course I'll go.
Well, good-bye, darling."

She swept from the room with the queenly grace and dignity that always
seemed a little out of proportion to the occasion--one expected her to
make a court curtsy, and go out backwards.

"My mother-in-law really believes it matters whether she calls on people
or not," said Bertha, in her low, even voice. "Isn'