"The real attack is to come--she is too quiet. When I give my hand to
your wife to lead her out, come with us--and caution her to hurry. Don't
lose a second, even if you have to make a scene. Hs-s-s-h!"

Then they resumed their places close to the table, and the servants, in
obedience to Lady Arabella's order, brought in fresh tea.

Thence on, that tea-party seemed to Adam, whose faculties were at their
utmost intensity, like a terrible dream. As for poor Mimi, she was so
overwrought both with present and future fear, and with horror at the
danger she had escaped, that her faculties were numb. However, she was
braced up for a trial, and she felt assured that whatever might come she
would be able to go through with it. Sir Nathaniel seemed just as
usual--suave, dignified, and thoughtful--perfect master of himself.

To her husband, it was evident that Mimi was ill at ease. The way she
kept turning her head to look around her, the quick coming and going of
the colour of her face, her hurried breathing, alternating with periods
of suspicious calm, were evidences of mental perturbation. To her, the
attitude of Lady Arabella seemed compounded of social sweetness and
personal consideration. It would be hard to imagine more thoughtful and
tender kindness towards an honoured guest.

When tea was over and the servants had come to clear away the cups, Lady
Arabella, putting her arm round Mimi's waist, strolled with her into an
adjoining room, where she collected a number of photographs which were
scattered about, and, sitting down beside her guest, began to show them
to her. While she was doing this, the servants closed all the doors of
the suite of rooms, as well as that which opened from the room