know how I feel about your society; I have never been in it, but I have heard of it ever since I was a girl in Paris. You told me a little then." "I knew very little then." "Well, you told me just all you knew, and it sounded perfect." "Chloe, when I was in Paris I was a little fool." But Mrs. Van Adam did not seem to hear the remark; she was bent upon speaking, and she went on: "Since then I've heard the travellers' tales of the Holy Land." "The Holy Land!" "London, dear. Some of our travellers abuse the old town, it's true; but they want to go back to it when April comes round, all the same. I think it gets into their blood, as the East gets into the blood of lovers of the picturesque; anyhow, it's got into mine. Daisy, you think I'm pretty still, don't you?" "Pretty—yes; lovely with that short hair." "And I'm immensely rich, of course; and I'm an American. Give me London to play with." [Pg 17] [Pg 17] "But, my dear Chloe——" "Yes. Now do. You can give it me. I know that. Our papers are full of your triumphs. You are the pet of society." "Nonsense, Chloe!" "But you are; you go everywhere." "Yes; that is why I am so tired—that is why——" "Let me go with you. Oh, Daisy, if you only knew how I long to get into London society!" "Oh, Chloe, if you only knew how I long to get out of it!" Mrs. Van Adam looked quite petrified by this exclamation. She drew her black brows together, screwed up her eyes, and scrutinised Mrs. Verulam with a merciless curiosity, such as a child displays before a strange and ineffable monster. Her scrutiny was silent, exhaustive, and apparently conclusive, since she closed it with the remark: "You little joker, you haven't altered a bit since Paris!" Then,