She gave him a pleading look that seemed to say: “Please be very simple—very simple indeed.” Then she glanced about her as if there had been other people in the room; she didn’t wish to appear closeted with him or to have come on purpose. There she was at any rate, and she proceeded. “When my son told me he should ask you to come down I was very glad. I mean of course we were delighted—” And she paused a moment. But she next went on: “I want to ask you about Mrs. Headway.” “Ah, here it is!” cried Waterville within himself. But he could show no wincing. “Ah yes, I see!” “Do you mind my asking you? I hope you don’t mind. I haven’t any one else to ask.” “Your son knows her much better than I do.” He said this without intention of malice, simply to escape from the difficulties of the situation, but after he had spoken was almost frightened by his mocking sound. “I don’t think he knows her. She knows _him_—which is very different. When I ask him about her he merely tells me she’s fascinating. She _is_ fascinating,” said her ladyship with inimitable dryness. “So I think, myself. I like her very much,” Waterville returned cheerfully. “You’re in all the better position to speak of her then.” “To speak well of her,” the young man smiled. “Of course—if you can. I should be delighted to hear you do that. That’s what I wish—to hear some good of her.” It might have seemed after this that nothing could have remained but for our friend to break out in categoric praise of his fellow guest; but he was no more to be tempted into that danger than into another. “I can only say I like her,” he repeated. “She has been very kind to me.” “Every one seems to like her,” said Lady Demesne with an unstudied effect of pathos. “She’s certainly very amusing.” “She’s very good-natured. I think she has no end of good intentions.” “What do you mean by good intentions?” asked Lady Demesne very sweetly. “Well, it strikes me she wants to be friendly and pleasant.” “Indeed she does! But of course you have to defend her. She’s your countrywoman.” “To defend her I must wait till she’s attacked,” Waterville laughed. “That’s very true. I needn’t call your attention to the fact that I’m not attacking her,” his hostess observed. “I should never attack a person staying in this house. I only want to know something about her, and if you can’t tell me perhaps at least you can mention some one who will.” “She’ll tell you herself. Tell you by the hour!” “What she has told my son? I shouldn’t understand it. My son doesn’t understand it.” She had a full pause, a profusion of patience; then she resumed disappointedly: “It’s very strange. I rather hoped you might explain it.” He turned the case over. “I’m afraid I can’t explain Mrs. Headway,” he concluded. “I see you admit she’s very peculiar.”