"I should be very well if it weren't for this heat," she said pettishly. "Do put that photograph down, George!--you do fidget so! Haven't you got any news for me--anything to amuse me? Oh! those horrid papers!--I see. Well! they'll wait a little. By the way, the 'Morning Post' says that young scamp, Lord Ancoats, has gone abroad. I suppose that girl was bought off." She sat down again in a shady corner, fanning herself vigorously. "I am afraid I can't tell you any secrets," said George, smiling, "for I don't know any. But it looks as though Mrs. Allison and Maxwell between them had somehow found a way out." "How's the mother?" "You see, she has gone abroad, too--to Bad Wildheim. In fact, Lord Ancoats has taken her." "That's the place for heart, isn't it?" said his mother, abruptly. "There's a man there that cures everybody." "I believe so," said George. "May we come to business, mother? I have brought these papers for you to sign, and I must get to the House in good time." Lady Tressady seemed to take no notice. She got up again, restlessly, and walked to the window. "How do you like my dress, George? Now, don't imagine anything absurd! Justine made it, and it was quite cheap." George could not help smiling--all the more that he was conscious of relief. She would not be asking him to admire her dress if there were fresh debts to confess to him. "It makes you look wonderfully young," he said, turning a critical eye, first upon the elegant gown of some soft pinky stuff in which his mother had arrayed herself, then upon the subtly rouged and powdered face above it. "You are a marvellous person, mother! All the same, I think the heat must have been getting hold of you, for your eyes are tired. Don't racket too much!" He spoke with his usual careless kindness, laying a hand upon her arm. Lady Tressady drew herself away, and, turning her back upon him, looked out of the window. "Have you seen any more of the Maxwells?" she said, over her shoulders. George gave a slight involuntary start. Then it occurred to him that his mother was making conversation in an odd way. "Once or twice," he said, reluctantly, in reply. "They were at the Ardaghs' the other night, of course." "Oh! you were there?"--Lady Tressady's voice was sharp again. "Well, of course. Letty went as your wife, and you're a member of Parliament. Lady Ardagh knows _me_ quite well--but I don't count now; she used to be glad enough to ask me." "It was a great crush, and very hot," said George, not knowing what to say. Lady Tressady frowned as she looked out of the window. "Well!--and Lady Maxwell--is she as absurd as ever?" "That depends upon one's point of view," said George, smiling. "She seemed as convinced as ever." "Who sent Mrs. Allison to that place? Barham, I suppose. He always sends his patients there. They say he's in league with the hotel-keepers."