But Mrs. Featherstone had an air of suppressed flurry and annoyance which was discouraging, and Gilda's handsome face was dark and a little defiant, as she followed her mother into the room. 'Can you get away from all these people for two minutes?' said Mrs. Featherstone, after the first greetings; 'I've something to tell you.' Mabel took her through the rooms out upon a balcony overlooking the garden and screened from the sun by a canvas awning. 'We shall be quiet here,' she said. Mrs. Featherstone did not speak for some moments. At last she said: 'Oh, my dear, I don't know how to tell you--I can't talk about it with ordinary patience yet--only think, our foolish, self-willed Gilda told us this morning that _that_ Mr. Caffyn had proposed to her and she had accepted him--after all the offers she has refused--isn't it too shocking to think of? And she won't listen to a word against him, the silly child is perfectly infatuated!' 'What does Mr. Featherstone say?' asked Mabel, to whom the news was scarcely a surprise. 'My dear, he knows very well it is all his fault, and that if he hadn't taken the young man up in that ridiculous way all this would never have happened--so, of course, he pretends not to see anything so very unsuitable about the affair--but he doesn't like it, really. How can he? Gilda might have married into the peerage--and now she is going to do this! I'm almost afraid these theatricals have brought it on.' Mabel was sincerely sorry. She was fond of Gilda, and thought her far too good for Harold. 'It may come to nothing after all,' she said, as the only form of consolation she could think of. 'If I could hope so!' sighed the distressed mother, 'but she is so headstrong. Still, he's not in a position to marry at present--unless Robert is insane enough to advance him to one. Would you speak to her? It would be so sweet of you if you only would!' But Mabel felt obliged to decline so delicate a mission, and excused herself. Then, as they re-entered the room she mentioned Holroyd's petition. Mrs. Featherstone recollected him faintly, and was rather flattered by his anxiety to see her play; but then he was quite a nonentity, and she was determined to have as brilliant and representative an audience as possible for the performance. 'My dear,' she said, 'I would if I could, but it's quite out of the question; my list is overfull as it is, and I haven't an idea where we shall put all the people who will come; there's so much talk about it everywhere that we have had next to no refusals. But if he's only anxious to see the play, and doesn't mind not being seen at it, he could get some idea of the treatment next Friday if he cares to come to the dress rehearsal. You know we arranged to run right through it for the first time. We thought of a small impromptu dance after the rehearsal, so if Mr. Holroyd would like to come a little earlier I shall be charmed to see him.'