dined on the Christmas of last year at Mrs. Munden's, and Nina, with a
"scratch lot," as our hostess said, was there, so that, the preliminary
wait being longish, she could approach me very sweetly. "I'll come to
you tomorrow if you like," she said; and the effect of it, after a first
stare at her, was to make me look all round. I took in, by these two
motions, two things; one of which was that, though now again so satisfied
herself of her high state, she could give me nothing comparable to what I
should have got had she taken me up at the moment of my meeting her on
her distinguished concession; the other that she was "suited" afresh and
that Mrs. Brash's successor was fully installed. Mrs. Brash's successor,
was at the other side of the room, and I became conscious that Mrs.
Munden was waiting to see my eyes seek her. I guessed the meaning of the
wait; what was one, this time, to say? Oh first and foremost assuredly
that it was immensely droll, for this time at least there was no mistake.
The lady I looked upon, and as to whom my friend, again quite at sea,
appealed to me for a formula, was as little a Holbein, or a specimen of
any other school, as she was, like Lady Beldonald herself, a Titian. The
formula was easy to give, for the amusement was that her prettiness--yes,
literally, prodigiously, her prettiness--was distinct. Lady Beldonald
had been magnificent--had been almost intelligent. Miss What's-her-name
continues pretty, continues even young, and doesn't matter a straw! She
matters so ideally little that Lady Beldonald is practically safer, I
judge, than she has ever been. There hasn't been a symptom of chatter
about this person, and I believe her protectress is much surprised that
we're not more struck.

It was at any rate strictly impossible to me to make an appointment for
the day as to which I have just recorded Nina's proposal; and the turn of
events since then has not quickened my eagerness. Mrs. Munden remained
in correspondence with Mrs. Brash--to the extent, that is, of three