t upon by his
disciples. Not a doubt that he could have got whatever he liked to go in
for, had he not been so fastidious and high-minded. He was fellow of his
college as it was, had got a poetry prize which, perhaps, was not the
Newdigate; and smiled indulgently at those who were more warm in the
arena of competition than himself. On other occasions when "men" came to
luncheon, the Contessa, though quite ready to be amused by them in her
own person, sternly forbade the appearance of Bice, the effect of whose
future was not, she was determined, to be spoilt by any such preliminary
peeps; but the Contessa's vigilance slackened when the visitors were of
no greater importance than this. She was insensible to the greatness of
MTutor. It did not seem to matter that he should be there sitting grave
and dignified by Lucy's side, and talking somewhat over Lucy's head, any
more than it mattered that Mr. Rushton should be there, or any other
person of an inferior level. It was not upon such men that Bice's
appearance was to tell. She took no precautions against such persons.
Jock himself at sixteen was not more utterly out of the question. And
the Contessa herself, as it happened, was much amused by MTutor; his
great ideas of everything, the exalted ideal that showed in all he did
or said, gave great pleasure to this woman of the world. And when they
came to the question of the educational influence of the stage, and the
conscientious character of the actors' work, she could not conceal her
satisfaction. "I will go with you, too," she said, "this evening." "We
shall all go," said Sir Tom, "even Bice. There is a big box, and behind
the curtain nobody will see her." To this the Contessa demurred, but,
after a little while, being in a yielding humour, gave way. "It is for
the play alone," she said in an undertone, raising her finger in
admonition, "You will remember, my child, for the play alone."

"We are all going for the play alone," said Sir Tom, cheerfully. "Here
is Lucy, who is a baby for a play. She likes melodrama best, disguises
and trap-doors and long-lost sons, and all the rest of it."

"It is a taste that is very general," said MTutor, indulgently; "but I
am sure Lady Randolph appreciates the efforts of a conscientious
interpreter--one who calls all the resources of art to his aid----"

"I don't care for the play alone," said Bice to Jock in an undertone. "I
want to see the people. They are always the most amusing. I ha