d indeed
hardly anything about her except that she was a Miss Abercrombie and
goes plaguing on about negroes. But"--here she became normal again--"as
for his father...."

"As for his father?"

"He was a constant visitor at my mother's, and I remember him very well.
So there is no feeling on my part against him or his family." Her
ladyship felt she had come very cleverly out of a bramble-bush she had
got entangled in unawares, but she wanted to leave it behind on the
road, and pushed on, speaking more earnestly:--"Indeed, my dearest
child, it is of you and your happiness that I am thinking--although I
know you won't believe me, and it's no use my saying anything...." At
this point feelings were threatened; and Gwen, between whom and her
mother there was plenty of affection, of a sort, hastened to allay--or
perhaps avert--them. She shifted her seat to the sofa beside her mother,
which made daughterliness more possible. A short episode of mutual
extenuations followed; for had not a flavour of battle--not tigerish,
but contentious--pervaded the interview?

"Very well, then, dear mother of mine," said Gwen, when this episode
had come to an end. "Suppose we consider it settled that way! I'm to be
tractability itself, on the distinct understanding that it commits me to
nothing whatever. As for the six months' penal servitude, you and papa
shall have it your own way. Only play fair--make a fair start, I mean! I
like method. You have only to say when--any time after Christmas--and
Adrian and I will tear ourselves asunder for six months. And then I'll
accompany my mamma to Vienna, because I know that's what she wants. Only
mind--honour bright!--as soon as I have dutifully forgotten Adrian for
six whole months, there's to be an end of the nonsense, and I'm to marry
Adrian ... and _vice versa_, of course! Oh no--he shan't be a cipher--I
won't allow it...."

"My dear Gwendolen, I wish I could persuade you to be more serious." But
her ladyship, as she rose to depart, was congratulating herself on
having scored. The idea of any young lady's love-fancies surviving six
months of Viennese life! She knew that fascinating capital well, and she
knew also what a powerful ally she would find in her elder daughter, the
Ambassadress, who was glittering there all this while as a distinct
constellation.

She might just as well have retired satisfied with this brilliant
prospect; only that she had, like so many of us, the postscript vice.
T