"I suppose so," she replied, "but I detest those people who are
pompous and rude and have spoiled my party. Do you know I had half a
mind to come down in the dress that I wore as Isis in Kendah Land. I
have got it upstairs and you shall see me in it before you go, for old
time's sake. Only it occurred to me that they might think me mad, so I
didn't. Dr. Jeffreys, will you say grace, please?"

Well, it was a most agreeable dinner so far as I was concerned, for I
sat between my hostess and Mrs. Scroope and the rest were too far off
for conversation. Moreover as Archibald developed an unexpected
quantity of small talk, and Scroope on the other side amused himself
by filling pink-bow Miss Smith's innocent mind with preposterous
stories about Africa, as had happened to me once before at this table,
Lady Ragnall and I were practically left undisturbed.

"Isn't it strange that we should find ourselves sitting here again
after all these years, except that you are in my poor mother's place?
Oh! when that scientific gentleman convinced me the other day that you
whom I had heard were dead, were not only alive and well but actually
in England, really I could have embraced him."

I thought of an answer but did not make it, though as usual she read
my mind for I saw her smile.

"The truth is," she went on, "I am an only child and really have no
friends, though of course being--well, you know," and she glanced at
the jewels on her breast, "I have plenty of acquaintances."

"And suitors," I suggested.