Adela advanced with outstretched hands to greet her “dear friend” as she was shown into a large drawing-room on the first floor.

Molly was standing in the middle of the room with an immense hat on, and a long cloak that woke instant enthusiasm in the soul of her visitor.  There was perhaps, even to Adela something too emphatic, too striking, too splendid altogether in the total effect of the tall, slim figure.  She had never thought that Molly would turn out half so handsome, but she saw now that she had only needed a little making-up.  While thinking these things she was chattering eagerly.

“How are you?  I was so sorry to hear you had been ill, but now you look simply splendid!  I have had a wonderful winter.  I feel as if I had laid in quite a stock of calm and rest from the desert, as if no little thing could worry me after my long draught—­of the desert, you know!  Well! one must get into harness again.”  She gave a little sigh.  “But to think of your having Westmoreland House!  How everybody wondered last season what was to become of it! and what furniture, oh! what an exquisite cabinet!  You certainly have wonderful taste.”  Molly did not interrupt her visitor to explain that the said cabinet had belonged to Madame Danterre.  “I adore that style; I do so wish Tim would give me a cabinet like that for my birthday.  I really think he might.”

She was so accustomed to Molly’s silences that it was some time before she realised that this one was ominous.  She might have seen that that young lady was looking over her head, or out of the window, or anywhere but at her.  Suddenly it struck her that not a sound interrupted her own voice, and she began to perceive the absurd airs that Molly was giving herself.  Prompted by the devil she, therefore, instantly proceeded to say: 

“When we were at Cairo Sir Edmund Grosse came for a few days with Lady Rose Bright.”

“From the yacht?” said Molly, speaking for the first time.

“Yes; they said in Cairo that the engagement would be announced as soon as they got back to England.  And really my dear, everyone agreed that without grudging you her money, one can’t help being glad that that dear woman should be rich again!”

It was about as sharp a two-edged thrust as could have been delivered, and Molly’s distrait air and undue magnificence melted under it.

“No one could be more glad than I am,” she said, with a quiet reserve of manner; and after that she was quite friendly, and took Adela all over the house, and pressed her to stay to tea, and that little lady felt instinctively that Molly was afraid of her, and smacked her rosy lips with the foretaste of the amusements she intended to enjoy in this magnificent house.

While they were having tea, Molly, leaning back, said quietly: 

“I see from what you said before we went over the house that you have not heard that Sir Edmund Grosse is ruined?”