and with an elaborate headdress of bugles and ornaments of a feathery and
beady nature, which were supposed to be flowers. About her neck this lady
wore numerous rows of jet beads, from which depended crosses and lockets
of the same material: she had jet earrings and jet bracelets; and had
altogether a beaded and bugled appearance, which would have been
eminently fascinating to the untutored taste of a North American Indian.

This lady was Mrs. Pallinson, a widow of limited means, and a distant
relation of Adela Branston's. Left quite alone after her husband's
death, and feeling herself thoroughly helpless, Adela had summoned this
experienced matron to her aid; whereupon Mrs. Pallinson had given up a
small establishment in the far north of London, which she was in the
habit of speaking about on occasions as her humble dwelling, and had
taken up her quarters in Cavendish-square, where she was a power of dread
to the servants.

Gilbert fancied that Mrs. Pallinson was by no means too favourably
disposed towards John Saltram. She had sharp black eyes, very much like
the jet beads with which her person was decorated, and with these she
kept a close watch upon Mrs. Branston and Mr. Saltram when the two were
talking together. Gilbert saw how great an effort it cost her at these
times to keep up the commonplace conversation which he had commenced with
her, and how intently she was trying to listen to the talk upon the other
side of the fire-place.

The dinner was an admirable one, the wines perfection, Mr. Branston
having been a past-master of the art of good living, and having stocked
his cellars with a view to a much longer life than had been granted to
him; the attendance was careful and complete; the dining-room, with its
rather old-fashioned furniture and heavy crimson hangings, a picture of