“It means that we are invited to Dunholm Castle for the ball, doesn't it?” Her husband tossed the card aside on the table. “It means that Betty will be invited to every house where there is a son who must be disposed of profitably. “She is invited because she is beautiful and clever. She would be invited if she had no money at all,” said Rosy daringly. She was actually growing daring, she thought sometimes. It would not have been possible to say anything like this a few months ago. “Don't make silly mistakes,” said Nigel. “There are a good many handsome girls who receive comparatively little attention. But the hounds of war are let loose, when one of your swollen American fortunes appears. The obviousness of it 'virtuously' makes me sick. It's as vulgar--as New York.” What befel next brought to Sir Nigel a shock of curious enlightenment, but no one was more amazed than Rosy herself. She felt, when she heard her own voice, as if she must be rather mad. “I would rather,” she said quite distinctly, “that you did not speak to me of New York in that way.” “What!” said Anstruthers, staring at her with contempt which was derision. “It is my home,” she answered. “It is not proper that I should hear it spoken of slightingly.” “Your home! It has not taken the slightest notice of you for twelve years. Your people dropped you as if you were a hot potato.” “They have taken me up again.” Still in amazement at her own boldness, but somehow learning something as she went on. He walked over to her side, and stood before her. “Look here, Rosalie,” he said. “You have been taking lessons from your sister. She is a beauty and young and you are not. People will stand things from her they will not take from you. I would stand some things myself, because it rather amuses a man to see a fine girl peacocking. It's merely ridiculous in you, and I won't stand it--not a bit of it.” It was not specially fortunate for him that the door opened as he was speaking, and Betty came in with her own invitation in her hand. He was quick enough, however, to turn to greet her with a shrug of his shoulders. “I am being favoured with a little scene by my wife,” he explained. “She is capable of getting up excellent little scenes, but I daresay she does not show you that side of her temper.” Betty took a comfortable chintz-covered, easy chair. Her expression was evasively speculative. “Was it a scene I interrupted?” she said. “Then I must not go away and leave you to finish it. You were saying that you would not 'stand' something. What does a man do when he will not 'stand' a thing? It always sounds so final and appalling--as if he were threatening horrible things such as, perhaps, were a resource in feudal times. What IS the resource in these dull days of law and order--and policemen?” “Is this American chaff?” he was disagreeably conscious that he was not wholly successful in his effort to be lofty. The frankness of Betty's smile was quite without prejudice.