"Miss Bush is much nearer the truth of things than any of you so-called psychological philosophers, Bee--analysing matters with little dilettante methods all day to the laughter of the gods. Miss Bush realises her obligations as a secretary, but you very often don't perceive yours as a duke's daughter, and a rising Foreign Office official's wife." Lady Beatrice was not the least crushed. She laughed frankly. "Dear, sweet Aunty! There never has been a scandel about me in my life--I am a model of circumspectness, demureness and present-day virtuous wifeliness. Why, I never interfere with Gerard--we hardly meet in the whole week--and I merely like my own simple friends, my own simple clothes, and my own simple pleasures!" "Artless creature!" And the youthful curls shook. "Well, what did you come for, in so many words? To try to get me to influence Gerard not to play for once the ineffectual part of husband in authority, and so let you disgrace the name of Thorvil and Strobridge in peace?" Lady Beatrice seized and stroked the fat hand lying upon the pink silk coverlet. "You darling, ducky Aunt Seraphim! Just that! I want to wear my enchanting boy's dress--I must be Ganymede, the cupbearer!" "Well, I'll be no party to it--be off with you. I have serious affairs to settle with Miss Bush and have no further time to waste." Lady Beatrice saluted her obediently and got off the bed once more; she was laughing softly. "Gerard is coming to lunch," Lady Garribardine called to her, "and Läo Delemar, and they are going to see a winter exhibition afterwards." "I can't stand Läo," Lady Beatrice cooed from the doorway; "she pretends to be so full of sex and other dreadful natural things, she makes my innocent aesthetic flesh creep--Gerard always had fruity tastes--Bye-bye, dear Aunt Sarah!" And kissing her finger-tips she was at last gone, leaving Katherine wondering. They had said very severe things to each other and neither was the least angry really--Gladys and Fred were not wont to bicker so. "Call up Mr. Strobridge, Miss Bush--he will not have left home yet--you know his number--ask him to speak to me at once." Katherine obeyed--she was an expert with the telephone and never raised her voice. Mr. Strobridge was soon at the other end of it, and she was about to hand the receiver to her employer when that lady frowned and told her to give the message herself. "My right ear is troublesome to-day," she said, "you must do the business for me, Miss Bush." "Hello! Her Ladyship wishes me to give you a message--will you wait a moment until I take it?" "Hello! Yes." "Say he is to come half an hour earlier to lunch to-day. I have things to talk over with him about to-night--He is to go to this ridiculous ball in my box--tell him so." Katherine repeated the exact message. "Tell her I am very much annoyed about the whole thing," Mr. Strobridge returned, "and have decided not to be present myself."