"Kitty! Come and help me with tea--there's a darling!" Lady Kitty turned. A path had opened through the crowd, and Madame d'Estrées, much escorted, a vision of diamonds and pale-pink satin, appeared, leading the way to the supper-room, and the light "refection," accompanied by much champagne, which always closed these evenings. The girl rose, as did her companion also. Madame d'Estrées threw a quick, half-satirical glance at Ashe, but he had eyes only for Lady Kitty, and her transformation at the touch of her mother's voice. She followed Madame d'Estrées with a singular and conscious dignity, her white skirts sweeping, her delicately fine head thrown back on her thin neck and shoulders. The black crowd closed about her; and Ashe's eyes pursued the slender figure till it disappeared. Extreme youth--innocence--protest--pain--was it with these touching and pleading impressions, after all, that his first talk with Kitty Bristol had left him? Yet what a little _étourdie_! How lacking in the reserves, the natural instincts and shrinkings of the well-bred English girl! * * * * * Darrell and Ashe walked home together, through a windy night which was bringing out April scents even from the London grass and lilac-bushes. "Well," said Darrell, as they stepped into the Green Park, "so you're safely in. Congratulate you, old fellow. Anything else?" "Yes. They've offered me Hickson's place. More fools they, don't you think?" "Good! Upon my word, Bill, you've got your foot in the stirrup now! Hope you'll continue to be civil to poor devils like me." The speaker looked up smiling, but neither the tone nor the smile was really cordial. Ashe felt the embarrassment that he had once or twice felt before in telling Darrell news of good fortune. There seemed to be something in Darrell that resented it--under an outer show of felicitation. However, they went on talking of the political moment and its prospects, and of Ashe's personal affairs. As to the last, Darrell questioned, and Ashe somewhat reluctantly replied. It appeared that his allowance was to be largely raised, that his paralyzed father, in fact, was anxious to put him in possession of a substantial share in the income of the estates, that one of the country-houses was to be made over to him, and so on. "Which means, of course, that they want you to marry," said Darrell. "Well, you've only to throw the handkerchief." They were passing a lamp as he spoke, and the light shone on his long, pale face--a face of discontent--with its large sunken eyes and hollow cheeks. Ashe treated the remark as "rot," and endeavored to get away from his own affairs by discussing the party they had just left. "How does she get all those people together? It's astonishing!" "Well, I always liked Madame d'Estrées well enough," said Darrell, "but, upon my word, she has done a beastly mean thing in bringing that girl over."