She frowned and her expression grew more solemn than ever. If this were Lord Henry, the mental picture she had formed of him had evidently been very far from the truth; nor had Denis Malster's description of him been even fair. She wondered, as she examined his fine thoughtful head, and handsome athletic figure, telling to such advantage in his impeccable attire, what motive Denis could have had in saying what he had about the young noblemen before her. She was deeply interested, and for the time being this feeling overcame every other motive in her breast. "If people don't understand you," she said, "it is surely better to be alone." He smiled in his roguish irresistible way. "If--" he repeated. A slight flush sprang into Cleopatra's cheeks, and quickly vanished again. He was distinctly attractive--almost bewildering. She was going to expostulate: "Surely you don't imagine that," when something which she read in his face, in his intelligent hands, and in his general manner made her feel that the words would sound banal. "I wish you wouldn't stay with me, Lord Henry," she pleaded. He rose. Whatever she may have meant, the plea sounded sincere enough, and he did not wish to harass her. "Of course I won't," he said, "if it is unpleasant to you," and he moved towards the door. "You surely want to be out in the sun," she added quickly. "You don't want to stay indoors. Besides I am better now." "Yes," he said, with his fingers on the handle of the door leading to the drawing-room. "One always feels a little stronger when one is excited. That is only natural. The presence even of the meanest stranger always causes a little excitement." She sighed. She began to wish he would sit down again. "But I assure you I feel quite well now." The conviction was gradually stealing over her that it was ignominious to be ill in the neighbourhood of this young man. She asked herself whether he had seen Leonetta, and what he thought of her, and she was seized by an incontrollable shudder. "You soon will be quite well," said Lord Henry gravely. "How can you tell!" she exclaimed, smiling incredulously and with some satisfaction too as she noticed that he left the door and returned to his seat. "Well, any way," he continued, "tell me just exactly what you feel. Try to explain to me exactly how you feel just before you fall. I need hardly tell you that it is of course not natural for a girl of your age to have these sudden fits of collapse. Can you tell me about it?" There was a pause, and then she replied, with a strain of defiance in her voice: "I frankly don't know. It's something I can't explain." "Is it something you frankly don't know, or something you can't explain?" he demanded. She looked up as she heard her reply repeated in that form, and was a little discomfited. "Will you try?" he added. "It is just possible, though, I admit, not probable, that I may be able to help you when I know."