There was a moment's silence. This was really an exceptional thing when Madame Frabelle was present. Edith could not recall one occasion when Eglantine had had nothing to say. Aylmer must have been excessively snubbing. Extraordinary I Wonder of wonders! He had actually silenced Madame Frabelle! All Aylmer's natural politeness and amiability returned when they rose to take their leave. He suddenly became cordial, cheery and charming. Evidently he was so delighted the visitor was going that it quite raised his spirits. When they left he gave Edith a little reproachful look. He did not ask her to come again. He was afraid she would bring Madame Frabelle. 'Well, Edith, I thoroughly understand your husband's hero-worship for that man,' said Madame Frabelle (meaning she thoroughly misunderstood it). 'I've been studying his character all this afternoon.' 'Do tell me what you think of him!' 'Edith, I'm sorry to say it, but it's a hard, cold, cruel nature.' 'Is it really?' 'Mr Aylmer Ross doesn't know what it is to feel emotion, sentiment, or tenderness. Principle he has, perhaps, and no doubt he thinks he has great self-control, but that's only because he's absolutely incapable of passion of any kind.' Edith smiled. 'I see you're amused at my being right again. It is an odd thing about me, I must own. I never make a mistake,' said Madame Frabelle complacently. As they walked home, she continued to discourse eloquently on the subject of Aylmer. She explained him almost entirely away. There was nothing Madame Frabelle fancied herself more on than physiognomy. She pointed out to Edith how the brow showed a narrow mind, the mouth bitterness. (How extraordinarily bored Aylmer must have been to give that impression of all others, thought her listener.) And the eyes, particularly, gave away his chief characteristic, the thing that one missed most in his personality. 'And what is that?' 'Can't you see?' 'No, I don't think I can.' 'He has no sense of humour!' said Madame Frabelle triumphantly. After a few moment's pause, Edith said: 'What do you think of Miss Clay?' 'She's very pretty--extremely pretty. But I don't quite like to say what I think of her. I'd rather not. Don't ask me. It doesn't concern me.' 'As bad as that? Oh, do tell me. You're so interesting about character, Eglantine.' 'Dear Edith, how kind of you. Well, she's very, very clever, of course. Most intellectual. A remarkable brain, I should say. But she's deep and scheming; it's a sly, treacherous face.' 'Really, I can't see that.' Madame Frabelle put her hand on Edith's shoulder. They had just reached the house. 'Ah, you don't know so much of life as I do, my dear.' 'I should have said she is certainly not at all above the average in cleverness, and I think her particularly simple and frank.' 'Ah, but that's all put on. You'll see I'm right some day. However, it doesn't matter. No doubt she's a very good nurse.'