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changed once more。 I heard his ringing cry； I heard the soft
thump…thump of his hands on the floor。 He was going down the room
again； in 〃Dexter's Leap…frog；〃 flying over the prostrate chairs。
In the hall； Ariel was on the watch for me。
As I approached her； I happened to be putting on my gloves。 She
stopped me； and； taking my right arm； lifted my hand toward her
face。 Was she going to kiss it？ or to bite it？〃 Neither。 She
smelt it like a dogand dropped it again with a hoarse chuckling
laugh。
〃You don't smell of his perfumes；〃 she said。 〃You _haven't_
touched his beard。 _Now_ I believe you。 Want a cab？〃
〃Thank you。 I'll walk till I meet a cab。〃
She was bent on being polite to menow I had _not_ touched his
beard。
〃I say！〃 she burst out； in her deepest notes。
〃Yes？〃
〃I'm glad I didn't upset you in the canal。 There now！〃
She gave me a friendly smack on the shoulder which nearly knocked
me downrelapsed； the instant after； into her leaden stolidity
of look and manner…and led the way out by the front door。 I
heard her hoarse chuckling laugh as she locked the gate behind
me。 My star was at last in the ascendant！ In one and the same day
I had found my way into the confidence of Ariel and Ariel's
master。
CHAPTER XXXI。
THE DEFENSE OF MRS。 BEAULY。
THE days that elapsed before Major Fitz…David's dinner…party
were precious days to me。
My long interview with Miserrimus Dexter had disturbed me far
more seriously than I suspected at the time。 It was not until
some hours after I had left him that I really began to feel how
my nerves had been tried by all that I had seen and heard during
my visit at his house。 I started at the slightest noises； I
dreamed of dreadful things； I was ready to cry without reason at
one moment； and to fly into a passion without reason at another。
Absolute rest was what I wanted； and （thanks to my good Benjamin）
was what I got。 The dear old man controlled his anxieties on my
account； and spared me the questions which his fatherly interest
in my welfare made him eager to ask。 It was tacitly understood
between us that all conversation on the subject of my visit to
Miserrimus Dexter （of which； it is needless to say； he strongly
disapproved） should be deferred until repose had restored my
energies of body and mind。 I saw no visitors。 Mrs。 Macallan came
to the cottage； and Major Fitz…David came to the cottageone of
them to hear what had passed between Miserrimus Dexter and
myself； the other to amuse me with the latest gossip about the
guests at the forthcoming dinner。 Benjamin took it on himself to
make my apologies； and to spare me the exertion of receiving my
visitors。 We hired a little open carriage； and took long drives
in the pretty country lanes still left flourishing within a few
miles of the northern suburb of London。 At home we sat and talked
quietly of old times； or played at backgammon and dominoesand
so； for a few happy days； led the peaceful unadventurous life
which was good for me。 When the day of the dinner arrived； I felt
restored to my customary health。 I was ready again； and eager
again； for the introduction to Lady Clarinda and the discovery of
Mrs。 Beauly。
Benjamin looked a little sadly at my flushed face as we drove to
Major Fitz…David's house。
〃Ah； my dear；〃 he said； in his simple way； 〃I see you are well
again！ You have had enough of our quiet life already。〃
My recollection of events and persons； in general； at the
dinner…party； is singularly indistinct。
I remember that we were very merry； and as easy and familiar with
one
another as if we had been old friends。 I remember that Madame
Mirliflore was unapproachably superior to the other women
present； in the perfect beauty of her dress； and in the ample
justice which she did to the luxurious dinner set before us。 I
remember the Major's young prima donna； more round…eyed； more
overdressed； more shrill and strident as the coming 〃Queen of
Song；〃 than ever。 I remember the Major himself； always kissing
our hands； always luring us to indulge in dainty dishes and
drinks； always making love； always detecting resemblances between
us； always 〃under the charm；〃 and never once out of his character
as elderly Don Juan from the beginning of the evening to the end。
I remember dear old Benjamin； completely bewildered； shrinking
into corners； blushing when he was personally drawn into the
conversation； frightened at Madame Mirliflore； bashful with Lady
Clarinda； submissive to the Major； suffering under the music； and
from the bottom of his honest old heart wishing himself home
again。 And there； as to the members of that cheerful little
gathering； my memory finds its limitswith one exception。 The
appearance of Lady Clarinda is as present to me as if I had met
her yesterday； and of the memorable conversation which we two
held together privately； toward the close of the evening； it is
no exaggeration to say that I can still call to mind almost every
word。
I see her dress； I hear her voice again； while I write。
She was attired； I remember； with that extreme assumption of
simplicity which always defeats its own end by irresistibly
suggesting art。 She wore plain white muslin； over white silk；
without trimming or ornament of any kind。 Her rich brown hair；
dressed in defiance of the prevailing fashion； was thrown back
from her forehead； and gathered into a simple knot
behindwithout adornment of any sort。 A little white ribbon
encircled her neck； fastened by the only article of jewelry that
she worea tiny diamond brooch。 She was unquestionably handsome；
but her beauty was of the somewhat hard and angular type which is
so often seen in English women of her race： the nose and chin too
prominent and too firmly shaped； the well…opened gray eyes full
of spirit and dignity； but wanting in tenderness and mobility of
expression。 Her manner had all the charm which fine breeding can
conferexquisitely polite； easily cordial； showing that perfect
yet unobtrusive confidence in herself which （in England） seems to
be the natural outgrowth of pre…eminent social rank。 If you had
accepted her for what she was； on the surface； you would have
said； Here is the model of a noble woman who is perfectly free
from pride。 And if you had taken a liberty with her； on the
strength of that conviction； she would have made you remember it
to the end of your life。
We got on together admirably。 I was introduced as 〃Mrs。
Woodville；〃 by previous arrangement with the Majoreffected
through Benjamin。 Before the dinner was over we had promised to
exchange visits。 Nothing but the opportunity was wanting to lead
Lady Clarinda into talking； as I wanted her to talk； of Mrs。
Beauly。
Late in the evening the opportunity came。
I had taken refuge from the terrible bravura singing of the
Major's strident prima donna in the back drawing…room。 As I had
hoped and anticipated； after a while Lady Clarinda （missing me
from the group around the piano） came in search of me。 She seated
herself by my side； out of sight and out of hearing of our
friends in the front room； and； to my infinite relief and
delight； touched on the subject of Miserrimus Dexter of her own
accord。 Something I had said of him； when his name had been
accidentally mentioned at dinner； remained in her memory； and led
us； by perfectly natural gradations； into speaking of Mrs。
Beauly。 〃At last；〃 I thought to myself； 〃the Major's little
dinner will bring me my reward！〃
And what a reward it was； when it came！ My heart sinks in me
againas it sank on that never…to…be…forgotten eveningwhile I
sit at my desk thinking of it。
〃So Dexter really spoke to you of Mrs。 Beauly！〃 exclaimed Lady
Clarinda。 〃You have no idea how you surprise me。〃
〃May I ask why？〃
〃He hates her！ The last time I saw him he wouldn't allow me to
mention her name。 It is one of his innumerable oddities。 If any
such feeling as sympathy is a possible feeling in such a nature
as his； he ought to like Helena Beauly。 She is the most
completely unconventional person I know。 When she does break out；
poor dear； she says things and does things which are almost
reckless enough to be worthy of Dexter himself。 I wonder whether
you would like her？〃
〃You have kindly asked me to visit you； Lady Clarinda。 Perhaps I
may meet her at your house？〃
〃I hope you will not wait until that is likely to happen；〃 she
said。 〃Helena's last whim is to fancy that she has gotthe gout；
of all the maladies in the world！ She is away at some wonderful
baths in Hungary or Bohemia （I don't remember which）and where
she will go； or what she will do next； it is perfectly impossible
to say。Dear Mrs。 Woodville！ is the heat of the fire too much
for you？ You are looking quite pale。〃
I _felt_ that I was looking pale。 The discovery of Mrs。 Beauly's
absence from England was a shock for which I was quite
unprepared。 For a moment it unnerved me。
〃Shall we go into the other room？〃 asked Lady Clarinda。
To go into the other room would be to drop the conversation。 I
was determined not to let that catastrophe happen。 It was just
possible that Mrs。 Beauly's maid might have quitted her service；
or might have been left behind in England。 My informa