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which she most swayed in the breeze； to that degree that her
confidant had ended with an inference or two tending to banish
regret for opportunities not embraced。 There were indeed tea…gowns
that Mrs。 Jordan describedbut tea…gowns were not the whole of
respectability； and it was odd that a clergyman's widow should
sometimes speak as if she almost thought so。 She came back； it was
true； unfailingly to Lord Rye； never； evidently； quite losing sight
of him even on the longest excursions。 That he was kindness itself
had become in fact the very moral it all pointedpointed in
strange flashes of the poor woman's nearsighted eyes。 She launched
at her young friend portentous looks； solemn heralds of some
extraordinary communication。 The communication itself； from week
to week； hung fire； but it was to the facts over which it hovered
that she owed her power of going on。 〃They are； in one way and
another；〃 she often emphasised； 〃a tower of strength〃； and as the
allusion was to the aristocracy the girl could quite wonder why； if
they were so in 〃one way；〃 they should require to be so in two。
She thoroughly knew； however； how many ways Mrs。 Jordan counted in。
It all meant simply that her fate was pressing her close。 If that
fate was to be sealed at the matrimonial altar it was perhaps not
remarkable that she shouldn't come all at once to the scratch of
overwhelming a mere telegraphist。 It would necessarily present to
such a person a prospect of regretful sacrifice。 Lord Ryeif it
WAS Lord Ryewouldn't be 〃kind〃 to a nonentity of that sort； even
though people quite as good had been。
One Sunday afternoon in November they went； by arrangement； to
church together； after whichon the inspiration of the moment the
arrangement had not included itthey proceeded to Mrs。 Jordan's
lodging in the region of Maida Vale。 She had raved to her friend
about her service of predilection； she was excessively 〃high；〃 and
had more than once wished to introduce the girl to the same comfort
and privilege。 There was a thick brown fog and Maida Vale tasted
of acrid smoke； but they had been sitting among chants and incense
and wonderful music； during which； though the effect of such things
on her mind was great； our young lady had indulged in a series of
reflexions but indirectly related to them。 One of these was the
result of Mrs。 Jordan's having said to her on the way； and with a
certain fine significance； that Lord Rye had been for some time in
town。 She had spoken as if it were a circumstance to which little
required to be addedas if the bearing of such an item on her life
might easily be grasped。 Perhaps it was the wonder of whether Lord
Rye wished to marry her that made her guest； with thoughts straying
to that quarter； quite determine that some other nuptials also
should take place at Saint Julian's。 Mr。 Mudge was still an
attendant at his Wesleyan chapel； but this was the least of her
worriesit had never even vexed her enough for her to so much as
name it to Mrs。 Jordan。 Mr。 Mudge's form of worship was one of
several thingsthey made up in superiority and beauty for what
they wanted in numberthat she had long ago settled he should take
from her； and she had now moreover for the first time definitely
established her own。 Its principal feature was that it was to be
the same as that of Mrs。 Jordan and Lord Rye； which was indeed very
much what she said to her hostess as they sat together later on。
The brown fog was in this hostess's little parlour； where it acted
as a postponement of the question of there being； besides； anything
else than the teacups and a pewter pot and a very black little fire
and a paraffin lamp without a shade。 There was at any rate no sign
of a flower； it was not for herself Mrs。 Jordan gathered sweets。
The girl waited till they had had a cup of teawaited for the
announcement that she fairly believed her friend had； this time；
possessed herself of her formally at last to make； but nothing
came； after the interval； save a little poke at the fire； which was
like the clearing of a throat for a speech。
CHAPTER XXV
〃I think you must have heard me speak of Mr。 Drake？〃 Mrs。 Jordan
had never looked so queer； nor her smile so suggestive of a large
benevolent bite。
〃Mr。 Drake？ Oh yes； isn't he a friend of Lord Rye？〃
〃A great and trusted friend。 AlmostI may saya loved friend。〃
Mrs。 Jordan's 〃almost〃 had such an oddity that her companion was
moved； rather flippantly perhaps； to take it up。 〃Don't people as
good as love their friends when they I trust them？〃
It pulled up a little the eulogist of Mr。 Drake。 〃Well； my dear； I
love YOU〃
〃But you don't trust me？〃 the girl unmercifully asked。
Again Mrs。 Jordan pausedstill she looked queer。 〃Yes；〃 she
replied with a certain austerity； 〃that's exactly what I'm about to
give you rather a remarkable proof of。〃 The sense of its being
remarkable was already so strong that； while she bridled a little；
this held her auditor in a momentary muteness of submission。 〃Mr。
Drake has rendered his lordship for several years services that his
lordship has highly appreciated and that make it all the morea
unexpected that they should； perhaps a little suddenly； separate。〃
〃Separate？〃 Our young lady was mystified； but she tried to be
interested； and she already saw that she had put the saddle on the
wrong horse。 She had heard something of Mr。 Drake； who was a
member of his lordship's circlethe member with whom； apparently；
Mrs。 Jordan's avocations had most happened to throw her。 She was
only a little puzzled at the 〃separation。〃 〃Well； at any rate；〃
she smiled； 〃if they separate as friends！〃
〃Oh his lordship takes the greatest interest in Mr。 Drake's future。
He'll do anything for him； he has in fact just done a great deal。
There MUST； you know； be changes！〃
〃No one knows it better than I；〃 the girl said。 She wished to draw
her interlocutress out。 〃There will be changes enough for me。〃
〃You're leaving Cocker's？〃
The ornament of that establishment waited a moment to answer； and
then it was indirect。 〃Tell me what YOU'RE doing。〃
〃Well； what will you think of it？〃
〃Why that you've found the opening you were always so sure of。〃
Mrs。 Jordan； on this； appeared to muse with embarrassed intensity。
〃I was always sure； yesand yet I often wasn't！〃
〃Well； I hope you're sure now。 Sure； I mean； of Mr。 Drake。〃
〃Yes； my dear； I think I may say I AM。 I kept him going till I
was。〃
〃Then he's yours？〃
〃My very own。〃
〃How nice！ And awfully rich？〃 our young woman went on。
Mrs。 Jordan showed promptly enough that she loved for higher
things。 〃Awfully handsomesix foot two。 And he HAS put by。〃
〃Quite like Mr。 Mudge； then！〃 that gentleman's friend rather
desperately exclaimed。
〃Oh not quite！〃 Mr。 Drake's was ambiguous about it； but the name of
Mr。 Mudge had evidently given her