She longed to be in Italy, where a bravo, for a comparatively small sum, would soon have ended his life. She was obliged to soothe her anger, to still the fierce tempest of rage, to calm her fears, to take an interest in her dress, to smile, to look sweet and winning, with the most vindictive hate in her heart. Then she went into the little drawing-room. Lord Linleigh went up to her. "What a pretty toilet, Doris," he said. "White lace and roses. Your taste is simply superb. But, ah, me! ah, me!" "What is it, papa?" she asked, as he laughed, gently. "Earle is not coming, my dear. I am afraid you will be disappointed. He has sent a hurried little note to say that it is impossible. He is busy about his election, you know." A few minutes afterward and Lord Vivianne, with a smile on his face, entered the room. Her fingers clutched the flowers she carried so tightly; the thought passed through her mind that if he could but have fallen dead over the threshold it would have been well for her. "I shall see him if he comes in later on," she said. A few minutes afterward he was seated by her side, and they were talking in the most friendly manner. The dinner passed over better than she had hoped. Earle was not mentioned nor did any one allude to Downsbury Castle. Lord Vivianne had contrived to secure a place by Lady Studleigh's side, and he did his best to please her. She could not help remarking how courteous and gallant was his manner in society. She contrasted it with what she had seen of him in Florence. When dinner was over, and they had gone into the drawing-room, he bent over the back of her chair. "Lady Studleigh, have you forgotten my terrible outburst of the other day?" "Yes," she replied; "I have seen much that is amusing since then." "It was not very amusing to me," he said. "When a man lays bare the core of his heart, he does not do it for amusement." "Not for his own, perhaps," she said; "but if he does it in your tragic style, he cannot help other people being amused." "I could call you Doris," he said, "when you look at me with that piquant smile." "I hope you will not, Lord Vivianne. I should always fancy papa was talking to me." "Did you think I was mad that day in the chestnut grove?" Lady Doris laughed. "My experience of the world is not very large at present," she said. "Whenever I see or hear anything unusual, I think it is the fashion of the times." "Ah, Lady Studleigh, I wish I could persuade you to be serious--you are always laughing at me." "Tendency to laughter is hereditary with me," she said. "I cannot help it. I am afraid that I have no talent for sentiment. The only matter I find for surprise is why you should have selected such a very unsuitable character as myself for your confidante. I cannot say what may be in store for me, but I do not remember that any love affair ever possessed the least interest for me yet."