showing herself to its possessor as conjoined with
Lord Mark for some interested view of it. He had,
however, promptly met her question.

"To gain? Why, your acquaintance."

"Well, what's my acquaintance to her? She can
care for me she must feel that only by being sorry
for me; and that's why she's lovely: to be already
willing to take the trouble to be. It's the height of
the disinterested."

There were more things in this than one that
Lord Mark might have taken up; but in a minute
he had made his choice. " Ah then, I'm nowhere,
for I'm afraid I'm not sorry for you in the least.
What do you make then," he asked, " of your suc
cess?"

"Why, just the great reason of all. It's just be
cause our friend there sees it that she pities me. She
understands," Milly said; " she's better than any of
you. She's beautiful."

He appeared struck with this at last with the
point the girl made of it; to which she came back
even after a diversion created by a dish presented
between them. " Beautiful in character, I see. Is
she so? You must tell me about her."

Milly wondered. " But haven't you known her
longer than I? Haven't you seen her for your
self?"

"No I ve failed with her. It's no use. I don't
make her out. And I assure you I really should like
to." His assurance had in fact for his companion a

[[182]]

p181 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p182w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p183

v?