Captain Monck to be one of them," she said. "He is obviously here as a
matter of form to-night. The best man must be civil to the
bride--whatever his feelings."

Lady Harriet's face cleared a little, although her estimate of Mrs.
Burton's opinion was not a very high one. "That may account for Captain
Dacre's extremely complacent attitude," she said. "He regards the
attentions paid to his _fiancée_ as a tribute to himself."

"He may change his point of view when he is married," laughed Mrs.
Ermsted. "It will be interesting to watch developments. We all know what
Captain Dacre is. I have never yet seen him satisfied to take a back
seat."

Mrs. Burton laughed with her. "Nor content to occupy even a front one at
the same show for long," she observed. "I marvel to see him caught in
the noose so easily."

"None but an adventuress could have done it," declared Mrs. Ermsted.
"She has practised the art of slinging the lasso before now."

"My dear," said Mrs. Ralston, "forgive me, but that is unworthy of you."

Mrs. Ermsted flicked an eyelid in Mrs. Burton's direction with an
_insouciance_ that somehow robbed the act of any serious sting. "Poor
Mrs. Ralston holds such a high opinion of everybody," she said, "that
she must meet with a hundred disappointments in a day."

Lady Harriet's down-turned lips said nothing, but they were none the
less eloquent on that account.