Bertha's vanity was not a very vivid part of her, and it took only one form. When she cared for anyone she was deeply (though not outwardly) exacting; she wanted that person entirely. To say that the general admiration she received gave her no pleasure would be an absurd exaggeration; if she had suddenly lost it, she would have missed it very much, no doubt. But after all, she valued it chiefly because she thought it was good for Percy. Privately she was not satisfied that Percy valued her enough. Had her many friends and acquaintances been told that the chief wish of the pretty Mrs. Kellynch was the more complete and absolute conquest of her own husband--who seemed much more devoted than most husbands--they would have been surprised, incredulous, perhaps even a little shocked. Nigel had promised to use all the means at his disposal to help Madeline. Bertha was anxious her friend should have what she had just missed. * * * * * "Well! Soon after the dinner I shall go and see Rupert in his rooms. I shall get to know him well, and I shall gradually tell him about Charlie, and how keen he is, and lead up to Miss Irwin, and say what a charming girl she is, and all that sort of thing. Nothing makes so much impression." "Don't make him jealous of Charlie," said Bertha. "Anything that he regarded as a slight I think would put an end to it. Rupert is not quite a commonplace man." "Jealous? Oh no, I should merely imply that Miss Madeline won't have anything to say to Charlie, and that I wonder why. But it can't do him any harm to know someone else wants her. My dear girl, a man understands another man. That is where women are such fools. They think they know more about men than men do, and that is why they are always being----" He stopped. She smiled. "Oh no. I quite do you justice, Nigel. I am never above consulting you on that sort of subject. I may know just a little bit more about men than some women do, for one reason----" "And what is that? Because you attract them?" "No, that doesn't help much. It's because I have brothers, and they have always confided in me without reserve. Oh! there was one more thing I _may_ have to ask you. I don't want to, and I don't like it at all, on account of Mrs. Hillier; but still it might happen to be necessary. It's _just_ possible I may ask you to flirt a little with a girl called Moona Chivvey." "Oh, _I_ know her." He smiled. "Of course I'd do anything for you, but _that_ would be about the hardest thing you could command." "She's not uninteresting," said Bertha. "I shall find out how she stands with Rupert, and I don't think there's much danger. But if it should be required--well--you might go further and fare worse." "I expect I should go further than Rupert," murmured Nigel.