'How delightful! Then why on earth did Lady Conroy send her to us with a letter of introduction? Why just us?'
'Because she likes you. Besides, it's just like her, isn't it? And she never said she had known her all her life. We jumped to that conclusion. It was our own idea.'
'Why, when you went up to the children and left me alone with Madame Frabelle yesterday evening, she told me herself; perfectly frankly, in her usual way. She's always like that, so frank and open. Besides, she hadn't the slightest idea we didn't know it.'
'I hope you didn't let her think--' Edith began.
'Edith! As if I would! Well, that being so'--he lit another cigarette--'and under the circumstances, I want to ask some people to meet her. See?'
'She seems very happy with us alone, doesn't she? Not as if she cared much for going out.'
'Yes, I know; that's all very well. But I don't want her to think we don't know anyone. And it seems a bit selfish, too, keeping her all to ourselves like this.'
'I want her to meet the Mitchells,' said Bruce. 'It's only a chance, of course, that she hasn't met them already here, and I've told Mitchell at the Foreign Office a good deal about her. He's very keen to know her. Very keen indeed,' he added thoughtfully.
'And then the Mitchells will ask her to their house, of course?'
'I know they will,' said Bruce, rather jealously. 'Well, I shan't mind her going there--once or twice--it's a very pleasant house, you know, Edith. And she likes celebrities, and clever people, and that sort of thing.'
'Mrs Mitchell will count her as one, no doubt.'
'I daresay! What does that matter? So she is.'
'I know she is, in a way; but, Bruce, don't you wonder why she stays here so long? I mean, there's no question of its not being for--well, for, say, interested reasons. I happen to know for a fact that she has a far larger income for herself alone than we have altogether. She showed me her bank-book one day.'
'I don't know. She's so confidential, and perhaps she wanted me to know how she was placed. And--she's not that sort of person--she's generous and liberal, rather extravagant I should say.'
'Quite so. Still, it's comfortable here, and saves trouble--and she likes us.'
Bruce again looked up toward the mirror, though he couldn't see it now.