"Oh, what sort of jam?" asked Wilton eagerly. "Pray don't keep it from me! Raspberry, greengage--_please_ tell me, Mrs. Ogilvie!" "Why, what _can_ it matter?" "It matters enormously." "One would think you were a reporter," said Felicity. "I'm not. I'm only a psychologist." "Same thing," said Felicity. "Well, anyhow, it's marmalade--so there!" said Vera. "Oh, how delightful," exclaimed Wilton; "to match his hair, of course. Of course it's his mother's idea though. What a good mother she must be!" "Oh, here he is, at last. Where are his wings?" The boy, with his white suit and golden hair and small harp, looked, literally, angelic. There was a murmur of admiration. "There oughtn't to be a dry eye in the room when he plays Schumann," said Felicity; "and fancy, Savile wouldn't come because he said he would long to kick him, and he was afraid Vera wouldn't like it." "I rather agree with Vera there," said Bertie. "No one would like, at one's musical party, to have one's artists kicked!" "Everything is all right," said Felicity, as she smiled and bowed to some one. "Why is everything all right? You gave one of your _special_ smiles just now! Who was it?" "De Valdez. It's rather jolly of him to have come here to-day. He was expected at the Spanish Embassy." "Probably going on afterwards." "Possibly not," said Felicity. "I admit I admire De Valdez very much," said Wilton. "Caring for nothing on earth but music and philosophy, and the kindest-hearted man in the world, he has been literally hounded into society by admiring women, and all the fuss about him hasn't spoilt him a bit; he would keep a royal party waiting for luncheon while he ran down to Bedford Park to spend the day with an old friend." "The point is," said Felicity calmly, "that he's a genius." "Oh, is he? I don't know much about music," said Wilton rather jealously. "I know you don't." "The point is, that he's remarkably handsome," said Bertie. "Now you're being disagreeable. Of course he's handsome, but that's _not_ the point." At this moment De Valdez joined them. Felicity took his arm and went down to tea. The boy harpist created wildest enthusiasm; a little later De Valdez sang (after which nearly every husband present suggested it was time to go), and, on the whole, the afternoon was as great a success as these things ever are. Quite late Bob Henderson arrived, full of tips--straight from the stable. Vera did not try to detain her lingering guests. Mr. Ogilvie never appeared on these occasions, but came home to dinner at eight, cross-questioned Vera, and did not listen to her answers in his usual amiable manner. * * * * *