Lady Newhaven looked very ethereal, as she came slowly across the grass in her diaphanous gown of rich white, covered with a flowing veil of thinnest transparent black.  Her blue eyes looked restlessly bright; her lips wore a mechanical smile.  Rachel, watching her, experienced a sudden pang at her undeniable loveliness.  It wounded her suddenly, as it never had done before.  “I am a common-looking, square-built woman compared to her,” she said to herself.  “No wonder he—­”

She instinctively drew back as Lady Newhaven turned quickly towards her.

“You dear person,” said Lady Newhaven, her eyes moving restlessly over the crowd, “are you still here?  Let us go and buy something together.  How nice you look,” without looking at her.  She drew Rachel apart in the direction of the tents.

“Where is he?” she said, sharply.  “I know he is here.  I heard all about the accident, though Edward never told me.  I don’t see him.”

“He is not in the gardens.  He is not coming out.  He is still rather knocked up.”

“I thought I should have died when I heard it.  Ah, Rachel, never love any one.  You don’t know what it’s like.  But I must see him.  I have come here on purpose.”

“So I supposed.”

“Edward would come, too.  He appeared at the last moment when the carriage came round, though I have never known him to go to a garden-party in his life.  But where is he, Rachel?”

“Somewhere in the house, I suppose.”

“I shan’t know where to find him.  I can’t be wandering about that woman’s house by myself.  We must slip away together, Rachel, and you must take me to him.  I must see him alone for five minutes.”

Rachel shook her head.

Captain Pratt, tall, pale, cautious, immaculate, his cane held along his spinal column, appeared suddenly close at hand.

“Mrs. Loftus is fortunate in her day,” he remarked, addressing himself to Lady Newhaven, and observing her fixedly with cold admiration.  “I seldom come to this sort of thing, but neighbors in the country must support each other.  I see you are on your way to the tents.  Pray allow me to carry your purchases for you.”

“Oh! don’t let me trouble you,” said Lady Newhaven, shrinking imperceptibly.  But it was no trouble to Captain Pratt, and they walked on together.

Lord Newhaven, who could not have been far off, joined Rachel.

* * * * *

“Well, my dear,” said Mrs. Pratt to Ada, “you might have let me wear my black and orange, after all, for you see Lady Newhaven has something very much the same, only hers is white underneath.  And do you see she has got two diamond butterflies on—­the little one at her throat and the big one holding her white carnations.  And you would not let me put on a single thing.  There now, Algy has joined her,” continued Mrs. Pratt, her attention quickly diverted from her own wrongs.  “Now they are walking on together.  How