‘My dear child, how do you know that she is an odious old woman? She was a very fascinating woman once. When I was like you I would have laid down my life for her.’ Lady William breathed forth a long, soft sigh involuntarily, unable to restrain herself. ‘I think I did,’ she said under her breath. Mab did not hear these words, but she said somewhat loudly, ‘Odious old woman!’ again. ‘Who is that you are describing so succinctly?’ cried a voice behind them. ‘Miss Mab has an energy and conciseness of expression which I admire.’ ‘She has a pitch of voice occasionally which is not at all admirable,’ said Lady William, turning round. Mab, as may be supposed, turned a bright scarlet up to her hat, her very hair warming in the quick suffusion of colour. But her mother was skilled in such emergencies and betrayed nothing. ‘It is always admirable to know what you think, and to express it clearly,’ said Swinford. ‘I was on my way,’ he added, putting his hands together with a supplicating movement, ‘to inquire whether I might consider myself forgiven. You know you turned me out the other day. May I come back with you now? You take so much from me when you shut your door. Miss Mab will intercede for me. She was as much shocked as I was when you sent me away.’ ‘There was no sending away,’ said Lady William. ‘We have been having an argument--my daughter and I. You shall be the impartial umpire and set us right.’ ‘With all the pleasure in the world,’ he said. XXV ‘It is a very good thing to have somebody impartial to refer to,’ said Lady William; ‘all our advisers take a side strongly. Now, Leo, you are of no faction; you can give us fair advice.’ ‘I am of your faction always,’ he said. ‘Ah, but I am of no faction. I am the seeker of advice. We want to be well advised, Mab and I. By the way, she does take a side strongly, but I will not tell you which it is.’ ‘Expound the case, Miss Mab; I must know before I can say.’ ‘So you shall know; but Mab must not tell you, for she has a bias. The case is this: Mab you see is grown up----’ He gave a glance at her in her (still) short frock, with her (still) large waist, and round, artless, almost childish look. ‘I see,’ he said, with a smile. ‘And must presently be introduced into society. The question is, must it be the society of Watcham, and is the dance at the FitzStephens’ to be her _début_? or is she to enter the world in a different way, and be taken to town for a season with all that follows? What is your opinion?’ ‘Can there be two opinions?’ he said, opening his eyes wide. ‘This is not treating me well. I hoped it was to be a difficult and delicate question, but it is no question at all.’ ‘You see,’ said Lady William to her daughter.