"It was certainly very brilliant," agreed Miss Leigh. "And I'm glad you were made so much of, my dear! That was as it ought to be. Lord Blythe told me he had seldom met so charming a girl!" Innocent sat up suddenly. "Lord Blythe? Do you know him?" "No, I cannot say I really know him," replied Miss Leigh. "I've met him several times--and his wife too--there was some scandal about her years and years ago before she was married--nobody ever knew exactly what it was, and her people hushed it up. I daresay it wasn't very much. Anyhow Lord Blythe married her--and he's a very fine man with a great position. I thought I saw you talking to Lady Blythe?" "Yes"--Innocent spoke almost mechanically--"I had a few minutes' conversation with her." "She's very handsome," went on Miss Leigh. "She used to be quite beautiful. A pity she has no children." Innocent was silent. The motor-brougham glided along. "You and Mr. Jocelyn seem to get on very well together," observed the old lady, presently. "He is a very 'taking' man--but I wonder if he is quite sincere?" Innocent's colour rose,--fortunately the interior of the brougham was too dark for her face to be seen. "Why should he not be?" she asked--"Surely with his great art, he would be more sincere than most men?" "Well, I hope so!" and Miss Leigh's voice was a little tremulous; "But artists are very impressionable, and live so much in a world of their own that I sometimes doubt whether they have much understanding or sympathy with the world of other people! Even Pierce Armitage--who was very dear to me--ran away with impressions like a child with toys. He would adore a person one day--and hate him, or her, the next!"--and she laughed softly and compassionately--"He would indeed, poor fellow! He was rather like Shelley in his likes and dislikes--you've read all about your Shelley of course?" "Indeed I have!" the girl answered,--"A glorious poet!--but he must have been difficult to live with!" "Difficult, if not impossible!"--and the gentle old lady took her hand and held it in a kind, motherly clasp--"You are a genius yourself--but you are a human little creature, not above the sweet and simple ways of life,--some of the poets and artists were and are in-human! Now Mr. Jocelyn--" "HE is human!" said Innocent, quickly--"I'm sure of that!" "You are sure? Well, dear, you like him very much and you have made a friend of him,--which is quite natural considering the long association you have had with his name--such a curious and romantic coincidence!--but I hope he won't disappoint you." Innocent laughed, happily. "Don't be afraid, you dear little godmother!" she said--"I don't expect anything of him, so no disappointment is possible! Here we are!"