Henrietta Frayling did not answer at once. Her delicate features perceptibly sharpened and hardened, her lips becoming thin as a thread. "You're not vexed with me? I haven't been tiresome and asked you something I shouldn't?" Damaris softly exclaimed, smitten with alarm of unintended and unconscious offence. "No--no--but you put a difficult question, since I have only impressions and those of the most, fugitive to guide me. Personally, I am always inclined to leave well alone." "But is this well?--There's just the point." "You are very anxious"-- "Yes, I am very anxious. You see I care dreadfully much." Henrietta bent down, giving her attention to an inch of kilted silk petticoat, showing where it should not, beneath the hem of her blue skirt. "I hesitate to give you advice; but I can give you my impressions--for what they may be worth. Seeing Colonel Carteret this afternoon he struck me as being in excellent case--enviably young for his years and content." "You thought so? Yet that's just what has worried me. Once or twice lately I have not been sure he was quite content." "Oh! you put it too high!" Henrietta threw off. "Can one ever be sure anyone--even one's own poor self--is quite content?" And she looked round, bringing the whole artillery of her still great, if waning, loveliness suddenly to bear upon Damaris, dazzling, charming, confusing her, as she said: "My precious child, has it never occurred to you Colonel Carteret may stay on, not against has will, but very much with it? Or occurred to you, further, not only that the pleasures of your father's society are by no means to be despised; but that you yourself are a rather remarkable product--as quaintly engagingly clever, as you are--well--shall we say--handsome, Damaris?" "I am deputed to enquire whether you propose to take tea indoors, Miss Verity, or have it brought to you here; and, in the latter case, whether we have leave to join you?"