Bertie bent to kiss the soft, warm flesh; slipped his arm round the supple shoulders. "Come! I'll put you to bed," he whispered; "be your obedient maid, Butterfly." "Susan will come, I told her to. Go to the little room, Bertie. I sleep so badly and anything disturbs me. I've heaps to do to-morrow." He took his arm away, his ardour chilling, and went out without a word. Susan, sleepy but attentive, came in; put Madame to bed; washed the soft skin free of powder and paint; brought a little glass to the bedside. "Madame's drops. Madame might not sleep." Crystal clear, tasteless, soothing, bringing dreamless, heavy sleep; a slide of treachery down which women slip to ill-health and worse. Already, at five-and-twenty, Esmé was taking chloral. The Society Bazaar began to take shape, to approach the days of its holding. Gorgeous gowns of satin and gauze and lace were fashioned for fair débutantes and pretty matrons. Sweets, china, baskets; the hundred and one things which no one wants and which they must buy at three times the value when ordered. The Duchess of Boredom would sell baskets. Dollie suggested an idea of diamond-like brilliancy: "Tie a card to every one: 'The Duchess of Boredom, Boredom Court,' with just a letter 's' and 'stall' in the corner. Everyone suburban in the room will rush for those baskets, and shop with them for months to come, forgetting, of course, to take off the card. It's perfect," said Dollie, "if she'll do it." "Or you might have some made in the shape of strawberry leaves," said Bertie, gravely. The Duchess did not object to her card being used. She was willing to order some hundreds of cards for the sake of charity. "The Bazaar, of course, paying my stationers," said the Duchess, severely. There were sweet stalls, where pretty notabilities, for five shillings extra, would sign their names on the boxes. There was a stall kept by great actresses, who sold their autographs and their photographs, and buttonholes of rosebuds and carnations. There were side shows, café chantants, everything to take money from the public. "For the tiny crippled children. Help them." Children selling flowers and sweets, dressed all in pale pink, crowned with rosebuds, carried little cards on their heads, with these words printed. "Let us be nothing if not sentimental," said Dollie, looking round the hall. Dull green gave background to the flower dresses; dull green on stalls and against the walls. Royalty had promised to be present. It was a great affair. "It will buy tweeds," said Dollie. "It always does. And baskets, and sweets for the hospitals. And it--the male part of it--won't be allowed any of the photographs it wants from the stage stall." A great bazaar, which a minor Royalty graciously declared open, and then remembered an engagement; its royal purse was sparsely supplied. All Society seemed to be assisting, but Suburbia flocked to it, and in the evening Shopland would render gallant support.