Lady Jane turned to Mr. Vanborough.

"Present me!" she said, submitting resignedly to the formalities of the
middle classes.

Mr. Vanborough obeyed, without looking at his wife, and without
mentioning his wife's name.

"Lady Jane Parnell," he said, passing over the introduction as rapidly
as possible. "Let me see you to your carriage," he added, offering his
arm. "I will take care that you have the refusal of the house. You may
trust it all to me."

No! Lady Jane was accustomed to leave a favorable impression behind her
wherever she went. It was a habit with her to be charming (in widely
different ways) to both sexes. The social experience of the upper
classes is, in England, an experience of universal welcome. Lady Jane
declined to leave until she had thawed the icy reception of the lady of
the house.

"I must repeat my apologies," she said to Mrs. Vanborough, "for coming
at this inconvenient time. My intrusion appears to have sadly disturbed
the two gentlemen. Mr. Vanborough looks as if he wished me a hundred
miles away. And as for your husband--" She stopped and glanced toward
Mr. Delamayn. "Pardon me for speaking in that familiar way. I have not
the pleasure of knowing your husband's name."

In speechless amazement Mrs. Vanborough's eyes followed the direction of
Lady Jane's eyes--and rested on the lawyer, personally a total stranger
to her.