"It--it has always been a men's gathering. Perhaps for some men here--I'm sorry there are such barbarians, Lady Kitty!--that makes the charm of it. Look at that old fellow there! He is a most famous old boy. Everybody invites him--but he never stirs out of his den but to come here. My mother can't get him--though she has tried often." And he pointed to a dishevelled, gray-haired gentleman, short in stature, round in figure, something, in short, like an animated egg, who was addressing a group not far off. Lady Kitty's face showed a variety of expressions. "Are there many parties like this in London? Are the ladies asked, and don't come? I--I don't--understand!" Ashe looked at her kindly. "There is no other hostess in London as clever as your mother," he declared, and then tried to change the subject; but she paid no heed. "The other day, at Aunt Grosville's," she said, slowly, "I asked if my two cousins might come to-night, and they looked at me as though I were mad! Oh, _do_ talk to me!" She came impulsively nearer, and Ashe noticed that Darrell, standing against the doorway of communication, looked round at them in amusement. "I liked your face--the very first moment when I saw you across the room. Do you know--you're--you're very handsome!" She drew back, her eyes fixed gravely, intently upon him. For the first time Ashe was conscious of annoyance. "I hope you won't mind my saying so"--his tone was a little short--"but in this country we don't say those things. They're not--quite polite." "Aren't they?" Her eyebrows arched themselves and her lips fell in penitence. "I always called my French cousin, Henri la Fresnay, _beau!_ I am sure he liked it!" The accent was almost plaintive. Ashe's natural impulse was to say that if so the French cousin must be an ass. But all in a moment he found himself seized with a desire to take her little hands in his own and press them--she looked such a child, so exquisite, and so forlorn. And he did in fact bend forward confidentially, forgetting Darrell. "I want you to come and see my mother?" he said, smiling at her. "Ask Lady Grosville to bring you." "May I? But--" She searched his face, eager still to pour out the impulsive, uncontrolled confidences that were in her mind. But his expression stopped her, and she gave a little, resentful sigh. "Yes--I'll come. _We_--you and I--are a little bit cousins too--aren't we? We talked about you at the Grosvilles." "Was our 'great-great' the same person?" he said, laughing. "Hope it was a decent 'great-great.' Some of mine aren't much to boast of. Well, at any rate, let's _be_ cousins--whether we are or no, shall we?" She assented, her whole face lighting up. "And we're going to meet--the week after next!" she said, triumphantly, "in the country." "Are we?--at Grosville Park. That's delightful." "And _then_ I'll ask your advice--I'll make you tell me--a hundred things! That's a bargain--mind!"