who, however, took very little interest in it. Littlemore expressed nevertheless the conviction that she _would_ have asked him; she never would be deterred by false delicacy. “She has been very delicate with _you_,” Waterville returned to this. “She hasn’t been at all pressing of late.” “It’s only because she has given me up. She thinks I’m a brute.” “I wonder what she thinks of me,” Waterville pensively said. “Oh, she counts upon you to introduce her to the American Minister at the Court of Saint James’s,” Littlemore opined without mercy. “It’s lucky for you our representative here’s absent.” “Well, the Minister has settled two or three difficult questions and I suppose can settle this one. I shall do nothing but by the orders of my chief.” He was very fond of alluding to his chief. “She does me injustice,” Littlemore added in a moment. “I’ve spoken to several people about her.” “Oh, but what have you told them?” “That she lives at the Hôtel Meurice and wants to know nice people.” “They’re flattered, I suppose, at your thinking them nice, but they don’t go,” said Waterville. “I spoke of her to Mrs. Bagshaw, and Mrs. Bagshaw has promised to go.” “Ah,” Waterville murmured; “you don’t call Mrs. Bagshaw nice! Mrs. Headway won’t take up with Mrs. Bagshaw.” “Well, then, that’s exactly what she wants—to be able to cut some one!” Waterville had a theory that Sir Arthur was keeping Mrs. Headway as a surprise—he meant perhaps to produce her during the next London season. He presently, however, learned as much about the matter as he could have desired to know. He had once offered to accompany his beautiful compatriot to the Museum of the Luxembourg and tell her a little about the modern French school. She had not examined this collection, in spite of her resolve to see everything remarkable—she carried her “Murray” in her lap even when she went to see the great tailor in the Rue de la Paix, to whom, as she said, she had given no end of points—for she usually went to such places with Sir Arthur, who was indifferent to the modern painters of France. “He says there are much better men in England. I must wait for the Royal Academy next year. He seems to think one can wait for anything, but I’m not so good at waiting as he. I can’t afford to wait—I’ve waited long enough.” So much as this Mrs. Headway said on the occasion of her arranging with Rupert Waterville that they should some day visit the Luxembourg together. She alluded to the Englishman as if he were her husband or her brother, her natural protector and companion.