Octavia put her arm through mine, and we were walking on, when Lady Doraine joined us, with the woman who had glared at me in the omnibus.  She looked as if she hated walking.  She is not actually stout, but everything is as tight as possible, and it does make her puff.  She was awfully smart, and had the thinnest boots on.  Lady Doraine was being so lovely to her, and Octavia was in one of her moods when she talks over people’s heads, so we had not a very pleasant walk, until we came to the stable gate, when Octavia and I went that way to see her new hunters.  We had hardly got out of hearing when she said—­

“Really, Elizabeth, how I dislike women!”

[Sidenote:  The Millionaires]

So I asked her who the puffing lady was, and she said a Mrs. Pike, the new Colonial millionairess.

“Horrid creature, as unnecessary as can be!”

So I asked her why she had invited her, then.  And she said her sister-in-law, Carry, had got round Tom and made a point of it, as she was running them, and now Carry had got the measles and could not come to look after the creature herself; and it would serve her right if Folly Doraine took them out of her hands.  And so you see, Mamma, everything has changed from your days, because this isn’t a person you would dream of knowing.  I don’t quite understand what “running them” means, and as Octavia was a little out of temper, I did not like to ask her; but Jane Roose is sure to know, so I will find out and tell you.

I went and played with the children when we got in.  They are such ducks, and we had a splendid romp.  Little Tom is enormous for five, and so clever, and Gwynnie is the image of Octavia when her hair was dark.  Now I must go down to tea.

[Sidenote:  Teaching Patience]

7.30.—­I was so late.  Every one was there when I got down in such gorgeous tea-gowns; I wore my white mousseline delaine frock.  The Rooses have the look of using out their summer best dresses.  Jane’s cold is worse.  The guns had got back, and came straggling in one by one, as they dressed, quickly or slowly; and Lord Doraine had such a lovely velvet suit on, and he said such nice things to me; and Lord Valmond sat at the other side, and seemed more ill-tempered than ever.  I can’t think what is the matter with him.  At last he asked me to play Patience with him; so I said that was a game one played by oneself, and he said he knew quite a new one which he was sure I would like to learn; but I did not particularly want to just then.  Lady Doraine was showing Mr. Wertz her new one at the other side of the hall.  There are some cosy little tables arranged for playing cards, with nice screens near, so that the other people’s counting, &c., may not put one out.

Mrs. Pike was too splendid for words, in petunia satin, and sable, and quantities of pearl chains; and Tom was trying to talk to her.  Nobody worries about Mr. Pike much; but Lord Doraine took him off to the billiard-room, after collecting Mr. Wertz, to play “Bridge”—­everybody plays “Bridge,” I find—­and then Lady Doraine came and joined Lord Valmond and me on the big sofa.