"On the contrary, prosaic people are far more likely to see things than highly strung imaginative creatures like myself. I've tried several times and have never seen anything. I believe having a great deal of brain-power and emotion and all that tells against it. I shouldn't be at all surprised now if Mrs. Stewart, who is--well, I should fancy, just a little cold, very bright and all that on the surface, you know--I shouldn't wonder if she could crystal-gaze very successfully. I should like to know whether she's ever tried." "I'm sure she's not," replied Lady Thomson, firmly. "My niece, Mrs. Stewart, is a great deal too sensible and well-educated." "Mrs. Stewart can't honestly say the same for herself," interposed Davison; "she gazed in this very crystal some years ago and certainly saw something in it." Miss Ormond exclaimed in triumph. Mildred froze. She did not desire the role of Society Seer. "What did I see, Mr. Davison?" she asked. He shrugged his shoulders. "Nothing of importance. You saw a woman in a light dress. Perhaps it was Lady Hammerton the collector, originally guilty, you remember, in the matter of the forged Augustus." "Mildred had only to peep in any glass to see Lady Hammerton, or some one sufficiently like her," observed Meres. "That idea was started when David Fletcher picked up the fancy picture which he chose to call a portrait of Lady Hammerton," cried Lady Thomson, who was just taking her leave. "Such nonsense! I protest against my own niece and a scholar of Ascham being likened to that scandalous woman." Cyril Meres smiled and stroked his soft, silvery beard. "Quite right of you to protest, Beatrice. Still, I'm glad Lady Hammerton didn't stick heroically to her Professor--as Mildred here does. We should never have been proud of her as an ancestress if she had." "Heroically?" repeated Maxwell Davison under his breath, and laughed. But the meaning of his laugh was lost on every one except Mildred. She flushed hotly at the thought of having to bear the responsibility of that ridiculous scene on the Cherwell; it was humiliating, indeed. She took up the crystal to conceal her chagrin. "Do please see something, Mrs. Stewart!" exclaimed Miss Ormond. "What sort of thing?" "Anything! Whatever you see, it will be quite thrilling. "Please see me, Mrs. Stewart," petitioned Goring, wandering towards the crystal-gazer. "I should so like to thrill Miss Ormond." "It's no good your trying that way," smiled the lady, playing fine eyes. "It's only shadows that are thrilling in the crystal; shadows of something happening a long way off; or sometimes a coming event casts a shadow before--and that's the most thrilling of all." "A coming event! That's exactly what I am, a tremendous coming Political Event. You ask them in the House," cried Goring, thrusting out his chin and aiming a provocative side-smile at a middle-aged Under-Secretary of State who discreetly admired Miss Ormond.