"You scented the battle from afar, Mrs. Allonby. Well, you shall have your share of the spoil," said the Oxonian. "Here's a nice soft stone for a seat. It's only the beauty of Miss Boundrish that's on toast. I say she's ripping, and they say I'm rude to say it." "I think her perfectly lovely. Those coral lips, that velvet brow----" "Ah, you're charring now, Mrs. Allonby----" "No, I really do admire the girl's face immensely if only----" "Ah!" interjected the thin man piously, "that fatal 'if,' that always qualifies the admiration of ladies for each other!" "Well, anyhow I guess it's a pretty big if this time, ain't it, Mrs. Allonby?" Mrs. Dinwiddie asked. "Beasts," reflected the fair being above them. "Of course, all the men are for me and all the women against!" "I was only about to regret," Ermengarde replied meekly, "that manners in that quarter scarcely match the beauty of the face." "Manners?" cried the thin man enigmatically. "Ah, if you want manners!" "Oh! manners," echoed the boy, "that's another matter. I was talking of beauty, and if that girl isn't a clinker----" "'Manners makyth man,' as I trust all Wykehamists know----" "Well, now, Mr. Welbourne, if manners makyth woman too," Mrs. Dinwiddie put in, "I judge that poor Boundrish gell wants making some. The way she'll take the only comfortable chairs." "I'll poor-Boundrish-girl her as soon as I get the chance!" reflected the fair object of the discussion, her eyes winking with wrath. "My dear lady," expostulated the boy, "we were speaking of beauty. You, who come from the country _par excellence_ of fair women, can you, even in comparison with your peerless countrywomen, deny that Miss Boundrish is a clinker?" "Ah!" sighed poor Dorris, "I always thought Bertie Trevor as nice as they make them." "Land's sake, Mr. Trevor, she clinks fast enough; she goes solid for beauty, if that's what you mean, and I guess she'd go for me if I darst deny it. But what, did Solomon say, is a beautiful woman without discretion?" "Surely his was a somewhat jaundiced view of the sex, Mrs. Dinwiddie----" "Anyhow, 'twas pretty extensive. He'd ought to know 'em if anybody did. He'd sampled 'em pretty well all round. King Solomon's reckoned about the most married man in history." "But _is_ the poor girl wanting in discretion?" asked Ermengarde's most dulcet tones. "Not," replied Agatha, who had silently stolen into the circle, "if it is discreet to shout exaggerated scandal in public places"--in some occult way Agatha knew of Dorris's misadventure at Turbia--"or to make mischief between friends and breed dissension in families, by the most odious misrepresentations and insinuations. Not if it is discreet to catch up half a misunderstood tale and repeat it with a twist-- "I say, Miss Somers, hadn't you better hold up. The lady might be coming round the corner," remonstrated Bertie in an anxious voice.