that I think you won't for the world grant me. Nothing will
induce you to find yourself alone with me."

"Why what on earth," Vanderbank asked, "do you suspect him of supposing
you want to do?"

"Oh it isn't THAT," Mrs. Brook sadly said.

"It isn't what?" laughed the Duchess.

"That he fears I may want in any way to--what do you call it?--make up
to him." She spoke as if she only wished it had been. "He has a deeper
thought."

"Well then what in goodness is it?" the Duchess pressed.

Mr. Longdon had said nothing more, but Mrs. Brook preferred none the
less to treat the question as between themselves. She WAS, as the
others said, wonderful. "You can't help thinking me"--she spoke to him
straight--"rather tortuous." The pause she thus momentarily produced was
so intense as to give a sharpness that was almost vulgar to the little
"Oh!" by which it was presently broken and the source of which neither
of her three companions could afterwards in the least have named.
Neither would have endeavoured to fix an infelicity of which each
doubtless had been but too capable. "It's only as a mother," she added,
"that I want my chance."

But the Duchess was at this again in the breach. "Take it, for mercy's
sake then, my dear, over Harold, who's an example to Nanda herself
in the way that, behind the piano there, he's keeping it up with Lady
Fanny."

If this had been a herring that, in the interest of peace, the Duchess
had wished to draw across the scent, it could scarce have been more
effective. Mrs. Brook, whose position had made just the difference that
she lost the view of the other side of the piano, took a slight but
immediate stretch. "IS Harold with Lady Fanny?"

"You ask it, my dear child," said the Duchess, "as if it were too
grand to be believed. It's the note of eagerness," she went on for Mr.
Longdon's benefit--"it's almost the note of hope: one of those that ces
messieurs, that we all in fact delight in and find so matchless. She
desires for Harold the highest advantages."

"Well then," declared Vanderbank, who had achieved a glimpse, "he's
clearly having them. It brings home to one his success."

"His success is true," Mrs. Brook insisted. "How he does it I don't
know."

"Oh DON'T you?" trumpeted the Duchess.

"He's amazing," Mrs. Brook pursued. "I watch--I hold my breath. But I'm
bound to say also I rather admire. He somehow amuses them."

"She's as pleased as Punch," said the Duchess.

"Those grea