"Kitty is at the Agricultural Show--with a party."
"Playing the great lady?
What a house!"
"Yes. Kitty abhors it. But it will do very well for the party
to-morrow."
"Half the county--that kind of thing?"
"
All the county--some royalties--and Lord Parham."
"Lord Parham being the end and aim? I thought I heard wheels."
Mrs. Alcot rose, and they strolled back towards the house.
"And the party?" resumed Darrell.
"Not particularly thrilling. Lord Grosville--"
"Also, I presume,
en garcon."
Mrs. Alcot smiled.
"--the Manleys, Lady Tranmore, Miss French, the Dean of Milford and his
wife, Eddie Helston--"
"That, I understand, is Lady Kitty's undergraduate adorer?"
"It's no use talking to you--you know all the gossip. And some county
big-wigs, whose names I can't remember--come to dinner to-night." Mrs.
Alcot stifled a yawn.
"I am very curious to see how Ashe takes his triumph," said Darrell, as
they paused half-way.
"He is just the same. No!" said Madeleine Alcot, correcting
herself--"no--not quite. He
meant to triumph, and he
knows that he
has done so."
"My dear lady!" cried Darrell--"a quite
enormous difference! Ashe
never took stock of himself or his prospects in his life before.
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