tact alone; though these things must be present. Rather perhaps it is
the reflection of a cultivated intellect acting upon a naturally pure
and elevated temperament, which makes these ladies conspicuous and
fashions them in such kind that all men, putting aside the mere charm
of beauty and the natural softening of judgment in the atmosphere of
sex, must recognise in them an equal mind, and a presence more noble
than their own.

Such a woman was Ida de la Molle, and if any one doubted it, it was
sufficient to compare her in her simplicity to the various human items
by whom she was surrounded. They were a typical county society
gathering, such as needs no description, and would not greatly
interest if described; neither very good nor very bad, very handsome
nor very plain, but moving religiously within the lines of custom and
on the ground of commonplace.

It is no wonder, then, that a woman like Ida de la Molle was /facile
princeps/ among such company, or that Harold Quaritch, who was
somewhat poetically inclined for a man of his age, at any rate where
the lady in question was concerned, should in his heart have compared
her to a queen. Even Belle Quest, lovely as she undoubtedly was in her
own way, paled and looked shopgirlish in face of that gentle dignity,
a fact of which she was evidently aware, for although the two women
were friendly, nothing would induce the latter to stand long near Ida
in public. She would tell Edward Cossey that it made her look like a
wax doll beside a live child.

While Mr. Quest was still watching Ida with complete satisfaction, for
she appealed to the artistic side of his nature, Colonel Quaritch
arrived upon the scene, looking, Mr. Quest thought, particularly plain