"It is a bad sign certainly. Läo is ageless, though, anything between twenty-eight and forty-five. We stay like that for years and then suddenly grow ridiculous! I believe you have extricated me from the appearance of that at all events, G. My new toupée has given me a new perspective." "You are quite beautiful now, Seraphim." "My golden ones were a habit. It has been a source of great gratification to me to watch how my friends have taken the alteration--even Miss Bush made a faint exclamation when she first saw it!" "She is usually very self-contained." "G., that girl is a wonder--have you anything to tell me about her?" "Nothing except that I agree with you that she is the most naturally intelligent creature I have ever met." "Are you in love with her, dear boy?" "Yes--extremely." "To the point of unhappiness?" "I have not analysed the point--but it is bound to be unhappiness since she does not care one atom for me." "You burnt your fingers that day in the picture gallery, then? It was a pity I let you." "The fire was lit before that--I think it was better that it flared up--now I am trying to settle down into being friends. Seraphim, I want to help her. I do so admire her courage and her profound common sense. She frankly desires to cultivate her mind and improve in every way; the change in her even since Christmas is remarkable--do be kind to her and let her come down sometimes as you did last night." "I intend to." Lady Garribardine helped herself to honey. "I am going to take her to Paris with me next week and then we shall be in London--there it will be more difficult." "Seraphim, have I your permission really to teach her things?" Her Ladyship laughed her bubbling laugh. "It quite depends what things--to love you, a married man? Certainly not! To improve her own intellect--perhaps." "It is, alas! to do the latter, dearest of aunts, but----" and here his voice vibrated with unwonted feeling, "I tell you frankly that if I did not know that the case is perfectly hopeless, and that I could never succeed in making her care for me, I believe I would brave even your wrath and attempt to win her." "As what--your mistress?" rather tartly. Mr. Strobridge shrugged his shoulders slightly. "I would marry her willingly if Beatrice would divorce me--such things can be arranged." "Yes, Beatrice is an excellent creature, as you often say--but since Miss Bush will have none of you, you had better stick to Beatrice, she has done you so many good turns. Think of Läo!" Then as she saw the look of pain and weariness upon his much-loved face, she got up and did what she had perhaps not done for quite ten years, she put her kind arm round his neck and pulled his head back against her ample bosom. "Dearest boy," she whispered softly, "I cannot bear that anything should really hurt you. What course is the right one to pursue, so that you shall not have more pain? We must think it out."