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before I had the Stars to help me； I used to lose thousands。 Now〃she
paused an instant〃well； look at that four hundred on the Grand National。
That's the Stars。〃
Denis would have liked to hear more about the Old Days。 But he was
too discreet and； still more； too shy to ask。 There had been something of
a bust up； that was all he knew。 Old Priscillanot so old then； of course；
and sprightlierhad lost a great deal of money； dropped it in handfuls and
hatfuls on every race…course in the country。 She had gambled too。 The
number of thousands varied in the different legends； but all put it high。
Henry Wimbush was forced to sell some of his Primitivesa Taddeo da
Poggibonsi； an Amico di Taddeo； and four or five nameless Sieneseto the
Americans。 There was a crisis。 For the first time in his life Henry
asserted himself； and with good effect； it seemed。
Priscilla's gay and gadding existence had come to an abrupt end。
Nowadays she spent almost all her time at Crome； cultivating a rather ill…
defined malady。 For consolation she dallied with New Thought and the
Occult。 Her passion for racing still possessed her； and Henry； who was a
kind…hearted fellow at bottom； allowed her forty pounds a month betting
money。 Most of Priscilla's days were spent in casting the horoscopes of
horses； and she invested her money scientifically； as the stars dictated。
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She betted on football too； and had a large notebook in which she
registered the horoscopes of all the players in all the teams of the League。
The process of balancing the horoscopes of two elevens one against the
other was a very delicate and difficult one。 A match between the Spurs
and the Villa entailed a conflict in the heavens so vast and so complicated
that it was not to be wondered at if she sometimes made a mistake about
the outcome。
〃Such a pity you don't believe in these things； Denis； such a pity；〃 said
Mrs。 Wimbush in her deep； distinct voice。
〃I can't say I feel it so。〃
〃Ah； that's because you don't know what it's like to have faith。 You've
no idea how amusing and exciting life becomes when you do believe。
All that happens means something； nothing you do is ever insignificant。
It makes life so jolly； you know。 Here am I at Crome。 Dull as
ditchwater； you'd think； but no； I don't find it so。 I don't regret the Old
Days a bit。 I have the Stars。。。〃 She picked up the sheet of paper that was
lying on the blotting… pad。 〃Inman's horoscope；〃 she explained。 〃（I
thought I'd like to have a little fling on the billiards championship this
autumn。） I have the Infinite to keep in tune with；〃 she waved her hand。
〃And then there's the next world and all the spirits； and one's Aura； and
Mrs。 Eddy and saying you're not ill； and the Christian Mysteries and Mrs。
Besant。 It's all splendid。 One's never dull for a moment。 I can't think
how I used to get on beforein the Old Days。 Pleasurerunning about；
that's all it was； just running about。 Lunch； tea； dinner； theatre； supper
every day。 It was fun； of course； while it lasted。 But there wasn't much
left of it afterwards。 There's rather a good thing about that in Barbecue…
Smith's new book。 Where is it？〃
She sat up and reached for a book that was lying on the little table by
the head of the sofa。
〃Do you know him； by the way？〃 she asked。
〃Who？〃
〃Mr。 Barbecue…Smith。〃
Denis knew of him vaguely。 Barbecue…Smith was a name in the
Sunday papers。 He wrote about the Conduct of Life。 He might even be
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the author of 〃What a Young Girl Ought to Know〃。
〃No； not personally；〃 he said。
〃I've invited him for next week…end。〃 She turned over the pages of
the book。 〃Here's the passage I was thinking of。 I marked it。 I always
mark the things I like。〃
Holding the book almost at arm's length； for she was somewhat long…
sighted； and making suitable gestures with her free hand； she began to read；
slowly； dramatically。
〃'What are thousand pound fur coats； what are quarter million
incomes？'〃 She looked up from the page with a histrionic movement of
the head； her orange coiffure nodded portentously。 Denis looked at it；
fascinated。 Was it the Real Thing and henna； he wondered； or was it one
of those Complete Transformations one sees in the advertisements？
〃'What are Thrones and Sceptres？'〃
The orange Transformationyes； it must be a Transformation bobbed
up again。
〃'What are the gaieties of the Rich； the splendours of the Powerful；
what is the pride of the Great； what are the gaudy pleasures of High
Society？'〃
The voice； which had risen in tone； questioningly； from sentence to
sentence； dropped suddenly and boomed reply。
〃'They are nothing。 Vanity； fluff； dandelion seed in the wind； thin
vapours of fever。 The things that matter happen in the heart。 Seen
things are sweet； but those unseen are a thousand times more significant。
It is the unseen that counts in Life。'〃
Mrs。 Wimbush lowered the book。 〃Beautiful； isn't it？〃 she said。
Denis preferred not to hazard an opinion； but uttered a non… committal
〃H'm。〃
〃Ah； it's a fine book this； a beautiful book；〃 said Priscilla； as she let the
pages flick back； one by one； from under her thumb。 〃And here's the
passage about the Lotus Pool。 He compares the Soul to a Lotus Pool；
you know。〃 She held up the book again and read。 〃'A Friend of mine
has a Lotus Pool in his garden。 It lies in a little dell embowered with
wild roses and eglantine； among which the nightingale pours forth its
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amorous descant all the summer long。 Within the pool the Lotuses
blossom； and the birds of the air come to drink and bathe themselves in its
crystal waters。。。' Ah； and th