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tinged with irritation rather than affection。 She might have
forgiven Comus generously for misdeeds of some gravity committed in
another continent； but she could never overlook the fact that out
of a dish of five plovers' eggs he was certain to take three。 The
absent may be always wrong； but they are seldom in a position to be
inconsiderate。
Thus a wall of ice had grown up gradually between mother and son； a
barrier across which they could hold converse； but which gave a
wintry chill even to the sparkle of their lightest words。 The boy
had the gift of being irresistibly amusing when he chose to exert
himself in that direction； and after a long series of moody or
jangling meal…sittings he would break forth into a torrential flow
of small talk； scandal and malicious anecdote； true or more
generally invented； to which Francesca listened with a relish and
appreciation； that was all the more flattering from being so
unwillingly bestowed。
〃If you chose your friends from a rather more reputable set you
would be doubtless less amusing； but there would be compensating
advantages。〃
Francesca snapped the remark out at lunch one day when she had been
betrayed into a broader smile than she considered the circumstances
of her attitude towards Comus warranted。
〃I'm going to move in quite decent society to…night；〃 replied Comus
with a pleased chuckle； 〃I'm going to meet you and Uncle Henry and
heaps of nice dull God…fearing people at dinner。〃
Francesca gave a little gasp of surprise and annoyance。
〃You don't mean to say Caroline has asked you to dinner to…night？〃
she said； 〃and of course without telling me。 How exceedingly like
her！〃
Lady Caroline Benaresq had reached that age when you can say and do
what you like in defiance of people's most sensitive feelings and
most cherished antipathies。 Not that she had waited to attain her
present age before pursuing that line of conduct； she came of a
family whose individual members went through life； from the nursery
to the grave； with as much tact and consideration as a cactus…hedge
might show in going through a crowded bathing tent。 It was a
compensating mercy that they disagreed rather more among themselves
than they did with the outside world； every known variety and shade
of religion and politics had been pressed into the family service
to avoid the possibility of any agreement on the larger essentials
of life； and such unlooked…for happenings as the Home Rule schism；
the Tariff…Reform upheaval and the Suffragette crusade were
thankfully seized on as furnishing occasion for further differences
and sub…divisions。 Lady Caroline's favourite scheme of
entertaining was to bring jarring and antagonistic elements into
close contact and play them remorselessly one against the other。
〃One gets much better results under those circumstances〃 she used
to observe； 〃than by asking people who wish to meet each other。
Few people talk as brilliantly to impress a friend as they do to
depress an enemy。〃
She admitted that her theory broke down rather badly if you applied
it to Parliamentary debates。 At her own dinner table its success
was usually triumphantly vindicated。
〃Who else is to be there？〃 Francesca asked； with some pardonable
misgiving。
〃Courtenay Youghal。 He'll probably sit next to you； so you'd
better think out a lot of annihilating remarks in readiness。 And
Elaine de Frey。〃
〃I don't think I've heard of her。 Who is she？〃
〃Nobody in particular； but rather nice…looking in a solemn sort of
way； and almost indecently rich。〃
〃Marry her〃 was the advice which sprang to Francesca's lips； but
she choked it back with a salted almond； having a rare perception
of the fact that words are sometimes given to us to defeat our
purposes。
〃Caroline has probably marked her down for Toby or one of the
grand…nephews；〃 she said； carelessly； 〃a little money would be
rather useful in that quarter； I imagine。〃
Comus tucked in his underlip with just the shade of pugnacity that
she wanted to see。
An advantageous marriage was so obviously the most sensible course
for him to embark on that she scarcely dared to hope that he would
seriously entertain it； yet there was just a chance that if he got
as far as the flirtation stage with an attractive （and attracted）
girl who was also an heiress； the sheer perversity of his nature
might carry him on to more definite courtship； if only from the
desire to thrust other more genuinely enamoured suitors into the
background。 It was a forlorn hope； so forlorn that the idea even
crossed her mind of throwing herself on the mercy of her BETE
NOIRE； Courtenay Youghal； and trying to enlist the influence which
he seemed to possess over Comus for the purpose of furthering her
hurriedly conceived project。 Anyhow； the dinner promised to be
more interesting than she had originally anticipated。
Lady Caroline was a professed Socialist in politics； chiefly； it
was believed； because she was thus enabled to disagree with most of
the Liberals and Conservatives； and all the Socialists of the day。
She did not permit her Socialism； however； to penetrate below
stairs； her cook and butler had every encouragement to be
Individualists。 Francesca； who was a keen and intelligent food
critic； harboured no misgivings as to her hostess's kitchen and
cellar departments； some of the human side…dishes at the feast gave
her more ground for uneasiness。 Courtenay Youghal； for instance；
would probably be brilliantly silent； her brother Henry would
almost certainly be the reverse。
The dinner party was a large one and Francesca arrived late with
little time to take preliminary stock of the guests； a card with
the name； 〃Miss de Frey；〃 immediately opposite her own place at the
other side of the table； indicated； however； the whereabouts of the
heiress。 It was characteristic of Francesca that she first
carefully read the menu from end to end； and then indulged in an
equally careful though less open scrutiny of the girl who sat
opposite her； the girl who was nobody in particular； but whose
income was everything that could be desired。 She was pretty in a
restrained nut…brown fashion； and had a look of grave reflective
calm that probably masked a speculative unsettled temperament。 Her
pose； if one wished to be critical； was just a little too
elaborately careless。 She wore some excellently set rubies with
that indefinable air of having more at home that is so difficult to
improvise。 Francesca was distinctly pleased with her survey。
〃You seem interested in your VIS…A…VIS；〃 said Courtenay Youghal。
〃I almost think I've seen her before；〃 said Francesca； 〃her face
seems familiar to me。〃
〃The narrow gallery at the Louvre； attributed to Leonardo da
Vinci；〃 said Youghal。
〃Of course；〃 said Francesca； her feelings di