Her great, blue eyes looked at me pathetically.

I tried to consider seriously the problem of the consumption of possible step-children; it was too difficult for me.

“I quite hoped to make it pay,” she continued—­“keeping prize pigs, I mean; we are so frightfully poor.  But I am away so much I fear it does not do very well.  You play bridge, of course?”

This did not seem to have much to do with the pigs.

“No, I do not play.”

“You don’t play bridge?  How on earth do you get through the day?”

“I really do not know.”

“Oh, you must learn at once.  I can give you the address of a woman in London who goes out for five pounds an afternoon and who would teach you in three or four lessons.  It does seem funny, your not playing.”

I said “Yes.”

She did not appear to want many answers from me after this, but prattled on about people and the world in general, and before half an hour was over I was left with the impression that society is chiefly composed of people living upon an agreeable and amusing ground somewhere at the borderland of the divorce court.

“So tiresome of the husbands!” she concluded.  “Before the war they used to be the most docile creatures; as long as they got a percentage, and the wives did not worry at their own little affairs, all went smoothly.  Now, since going out there and fighting, they have come back giving themselves great airs, and talking about wounded honor, and ridiculous things of that sort that one reads of in early Victorian books.  One does not know where it will end.”

She yawned a little after this, and Lord Tilchester shuffled up and sat down in the corner of the sofa near her.  He has the manner of an awkward school-boy.

“You are taking away every one’s character, as usual, I suppose, Babykins,” he chuckled.  “What will Mrs. Gurrage think of it all, I wonder?”

Lady Tilchester interrupted further conversation by carrying me off to see the garden.  She is the most fascinating personality I have yet met.  There is something like the sun’s rays about her—­you feel warmed and comforted when she is near.  She looks so great and noble, and above all common things, one cannot help wondering why she married Lord Tilchester, who is quite ordinary.  When she talks, every one listens.  Her voice is like golden bells, and she never says stupid things that mean nothing.  We had half an hour in the glorious garden, and she made me feel that life was a fair thing, and that even I should find bits to smile over.  How great to have a nature like this, that one’s very presence does good to other human beings!

“There are a lot of tiresome people here, I am afraid,” she said, at last; “but I wanted you to come to the first party we had after our return, so you must try and not be bored.  You shall sit next Mr. Budge to-night; he will be obliged to take in Lady Lambourne, but I will put you on the other side.  He will amuse you; he is the cleverest man I know.”