, and had eaten the mayonnaise with a dessert spoon. But
presently, because she saw they waited for her to speak, she said, with
a little flutter of maliciousness: "Wouldn't it be well for Richard--he
has plenty of time, and we are also likely to have it now--to put us all
through a course of instruction for the training of chieftainesses?
And when do you think she will be ready for a drawing-room--Her Majesty
Queen Victoria's, or ours?"

"Marion!" said Mrs. Armour severely; but Richard came round to her, and,
with his fresh, child-like humour, put his arm round her waist and added
"Marion, I'd be willing to bet--if I were in the habit of betting--my
shaky old pins here against a lock of your hair that you may present her
at any drawing-room--ours or Queen Victoria's--in two years, if we go at
it right; and it would serve Master Frank very well if we turned her out
something, after all."

To which Mrs. Armour responded almost eagerly: "I wish it were only
possible, Richard. And what you say is true, I suppose, that she is of
rank in her own country, whatever value that may have."

Richard saw his advantage. "Well, mother," he said, "a chieftainess is a
chieftainess, and I don't know but to announce her as such, and--"

"And be proud of it, as it were," put in Marion, "and pose her, and
make her a prize--a Pocahontas, wasn't it?--and go on pretending world
without end!" Marion's voice was still slightly grating, but there
was in it too a faint sound of hope. "Perhaps," she said to herself,
"Richard is right."

At this point the door opened and Lali entered, shown in by Colvin,
her newly-appointed maid, and followed by Mackenzie, and, as we said,
dressed still in her heathenish garments. She had a strong sense of
dignity, for she stood still and waited. Perhaps nothing could have
impressed Marion more. Had Lali been subservient simply, an entirely
passive, unintelligent creature, she would probably have tyrannised over
her in a soft, persistent fashion, and despised her generally. But Mrs.
Armour and Marion saw that this stranger might become very troublesome
indeed, if her temper were to have play. They were aware of capacities
for passion in those dark eyes, so musing yet so active in expression,
which moved swiftly from one object to another and then suddenly became
resolute.

Both mother and daughter came forward, and held out their hands,
wishing her a pleasant good-morning, and were followed by Richard, and
i