them both. Will you promise me something, Lady Ethelrida? Will you help
me not to permit any one to interfere between them for some time, no
matter how things may appear? Give them the chance of settling
everything themselves."

Ethelrida looked back at him, with a seriousness equal to his own as she
answered, "I promise." And inwardly the sense of some unknown
undercurrent that might grow into a rushing torrent made itself felt,
stronger than before.

Meanwhile Lady Coltshurst, who could just see Zara's profile all the
time when she put up those irritating, longhandled glasses of hers, now
gave her opinion of the bride-elect to Lord Charles Montfitchet, her
neighbor on the left hand.

"I strongly disapprove of her, Charles. Either her hair is dyed or her
eyes are blackened; that mixture is not natural, and if, indeed, it
should be in this case then I consider it uncanny and not what one would
wish for in the family."

"Oh, I say, my lady!" objected Lord Charles, "I think she is the most
stunning-looking young woman I've seen in a month of Sundays!"

Lady Coltshurst put up her glasses again and glared:

"I cannot bear your modern slang, Charles, but 'stunning,' used
literally, is quite appropriate. She does stun one; that is exactly it.
I fear poor Tristram with such a type can look forward to very little
happiness, or poor Jane to any likelihood that the Tancred name will
remain free from scandal."

Lord Charles grew exasperated and retaliated.

"By George! A demure mouse can cause scandal to a name, with probably
more certainty than this beauty!"

There was a member of Lady Coltshurst's husband's family whom she
herself, having no children, had brought out, and who had been
perilously near the Divorce Court this very season: and she was a dull,
colorless little thing.

Her ladyship turned the conversation abruptly, with an annihilating
glance. And fortunately, just then Zara rose, and the ladies filed out
of the room: and so this trying dinner was over.

CHAPTER XIII

Nothing could exceed Zara's dignity, when they reached the drawing-room
above. They at first stood in a group by the fire in the larger room,
and Emily and Mary tried to get a word in and say something nice in
their frank girlish way. They admired their future sister-in-law so
immensely, and if Zara had not thought they were all acting a part, as
she herself was, she would have been touched at their sweetness. As it
was she inward