be. Very likely Elisabeth will discover him if he is here. She has
just gone off on one of her tours of inspection."

Mr. Foley shrugged his shoulders. He was, after all, a philosopher.

"I am afraid Elisabeth won't get very far," he remarked. "Carton was in
her train, and Ellison and Aubrey weren't far behind. She is really
quite wonderful. I never in all my life saw any one look so beautiful
as she does to-night."

Lady Grenside made a little grimace as she laid her fingers upon her
brother's arm and pointed towards an empty settee close at hand.

"Beautiful, yes," she sighed, "but oh, so difficult!"


Almost at that moment, Elisabeth had paused on her way through the
furthest of the three crowded rooms--and Maraton, happening
simultaneously to glance in her direction, their eyes met. They were
both above the average height, so they looked at one another over the
heads of many people, and in both their faces was something of the same
expression--the faint interest born of a relieved monotony. The girl
deliberately turned towards him. He was an unknown guest and alone.
There were times when her duties came quite easily.

"I am afraid that you are not amusing yourself," she remarked, with some
faint yet kindly note of condescension in her tone.

"You are very kind," he answered, his eyebrows slightly lifted. "I
certainly am not. But then I did not come here to amuse myself."