at last she scarcely thought of it, till at the
close of their pleasant breakfast _tete-a-tete_ described at the
commencement of this chapter, Philip suddenly said,--"By-the-by, Thelma,
I have sent to the bank for the Errington diamonds. They'll be here
presently. I want you to wear them to-night."

Thelma looked puzzled and inquiring. "To-night? What is it that we do? I
forget! Oh! now I know--it is to go to Lady Winsleigh. What will it be
like, Philip?"

"Well, there'll be heaps of people all cramming and crowding up the
stairs and down them again,--you'll see all those women who have called
on you, and you'll be introduced to them,--I dare say there'll be some
bad music and an indigestible supper--and--and--that's all!"

She laughed and shook her head reproachfully. "I cannot believe you, my
naughty boy!" she said, rising from her seat, and kneeling beside him
with arms round his neck, and soft eyes gazing lovingly into his. "You
are nearly as bad as that very bad Mr. Lorimer, who will always see
strange vexations in everything! I am quite sure Lady Winsleigh will not
have crowds up and down her stairs,--that would be bad taste. And if she
has music, it will be good--and she would not give her friends a supper
to make them ill."

Philip did not answer. He was studying every delicate tint in his wife's
dazzling complexion and seemed absorbed.

"Wear that one gown you got from Worth," he said abruptly. "I like
it--it suits you."

"Of course I will wear it if you wish," she answered, laughing still.
"But why? What does it matter? You want me to be something very splendid
in dress to-night?"

Philip drew a deep breath. "I want you to eclipse every woman in the
room!" he said with remarkable emphasis.

She grew rather pensive. "I do not think that would be pleasant," she
said gravely. "Besides, it is impossible. And it would be wrong to wish
me to make every one else dissatisfied with themselves. That is not like
you, my Philip!"

He touched with tender fingers the great glistening coil of hair that
was twisted up at the top of her graceful head.

"Ah, darling! You don't know what a world it is, and what very queer
people there are in it! Never mind! . . . don't bother yourself about
it. You'll have a good bird's-eye view of society tonight, and you shall
tell me afterwards how you like it. I shall be curious to know what you
think of Lady Winsleigh."

"She is beautiful, is she not?"

"Well, she is consid