the wonderful new singer, don't you know--the little girl, Vera
Schakoffsky.'

'Oh, very well,' said Hyacinth. 'I'll go,' and she went on with Anne.
But when they had returned to the music-room she said to Anne, 'I left
my handkerchief,' and went back to the refreshment-room.

A screen was by the door. Just before she had passed it she heard Mrs
Raymond say--

'What an angel! How can you not be at her feet? Go and talk to her at
once, or I'll never speak to you again!'

'I just shan't!' said Cecil doggedly. 'You make me simply ridiculous. If
you won't be nice to me yourself, you needn't throw me at the head of
other people.'

Hyacinth turned back and went to the music-room again.

Some time afterwards Cecil joined her, Mrs Raymond having apparently
disappeared. The new tenor was singing an old song. Cecil sat down next
to Hyacinth on a little Empire sofa.

'Let me look at the programme,' he said. And as he took it from her he
pressed her fingers. She snatched her hand angrily away.

'Pray don't do that,' she said in a contemptuous tone. 'Even to obey Mrs
Raymond, you needn't do violence to your feelings!'

'Miss Verney! I beg your pardon! But what _do_ you mean?'