"What dreadful ideas you have."

"Do you think so? I hope not. I only speak what I have observed. Take
the case of Fraulein von Holtzhausen, for instance. Did you not notice
that whilst she was in the room the eyes of the three gentlemen were
all fixed upon her, and as soon as she leaves it one of them follows
her, as the others would have done had they not been forestalled? One
cannot blame them; they are simply following a natural law. Any other
man would do the same where such a charming person is concerned."

"I certainly did not notice it; indeed, to speak the truth, I thought
that they were more occupied with you----"

"With me! why, my dear Miss Lee, _I_ don't set up for being good-
looking. What a strange idea. But I dare say you are right, it is only
one of my theories based upon my own casual observations, and, after
all, men are not a very interesting subject, are they? Let's talk of
something more exciting--dresses, for instance."

But poor Maria was too uncomfortable and disturbed to talk of anything
else, so she collapsed into silence, and shortly after Mr. and Mrs.
Bellamy and George made their adieux.

Meanwhile Philip and Hilda had been walking leisurely down the
shrubberies adjoining the house.

"Why have you come out?" she asked in German, a language he understood
well.