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daughter and the mother （it was slightly confusing） 〃drew。〃 It was
Lady Maresfield's version of the case that the brazen girl （she was
shockingly coarse） had treated poor Guy abominably。 At any rate it
was made known； just after Easter； that Miss Tramore was to be
married to Captain Jay。 The marriage was not to take place till the
summer； but Rose felt that before this the field would practically be
won。 There had been some bad moments； there had been several warm
corners and a certain number of cold shoulders and closed doors and
stony stares； but the breach was effectually madethe rest was only
a question of time。 Mrs。 Tramore could be trusted to keep what she
had gained； and it was the dowagers； the old dragons with prominent
fangs and glittering scales； whom the trick had already mainly
caught。 By this time there were several houses into which the
liberated lady had crept alone。 Her daughter had been expected with
her； but they couldn't turn her out because the girl had stayed
behind； and she was fast acquiring a new identity； that of a parental
connection with the heroine of such a romantic story。 She was at
least the next best thing to her daughter； and Rose foresaw the day
when she would be valued principally as a memento of one of the
prettiest episodes in the annals of London。 At a big official party；
in June； Rose had the joy of introducing Eric to his mother。 She was
a little sorry it was an official partythere were some other such
queer people there； but Eric called； observing the shade； the next
day but one。
No observer； probably； would have been acute enough to fix exactly
the moment at which the girl ceased to take out her mother and began
to be taken out by her。 A later phase was more distinguishablethat
at which Rose forbore to inflict on her companion a duality that
might become oppressive。 She began to economise her force； she went
only when the particular effect was required。 Her marriage was
delayed by the period of mourning consequent upon the death of her
grandmother； who； the younger Mrs。 Tramore averred； was killed by the
rumour of her own new birth。 She was the only one of the dragons who
had not been tamed。 Julia Tramore knew the truth about thisshe was
determined such things should not kill HER。 She would live to do
somethingshe hardly knew what。 The provisions of her mother's will
were published in the 〃Illustrated News〃； from which it appeared that
everything that was not to go to Eric and to Julia was to go to the
fortunate Edith。 Miss Tramore makes no secret of her own intentions
as regards this favourite。
Edith is not pretty； but Lady Maresfield is waiting for her； she is
determined Gwendolen Vesey shall not get hold of her。 Mrs。 Vesey
however takes no interest in her at all。 She is whimsical； as befits
a woman of her fashion； but there are two persons she is still very
fond of； the delightful Bertram Jays。 The fondness of this pair； it
must be added； is not wholly expended in return。 They are extremely
united； but their life is more domestic than might have been expected
from the preliminary signs。 It owes a portion of its concentration
to the fact that Mrs。 Tramore has now so many places to go to that
she has almost no time to come to her daughter's。 She is； under her
son…in…law's roof； a brilliant but a rare apparition； and the other
day he remarked upon the circumstance to his wife。
〃If it hadn't been for you；〃 she replied； smiling； 〃she might have
had her regular place at our fireside。〃
〃Good heavens； how did I prevent it？〃 cried Captain Jay； with all the
consciousness of virtue。
〃You ordered it otherwise； you goose！〃 And she says； in the same
spirit； whenever her husband commends her （which he does； sometimes；
extravagantly） for the way she launched her mother： 〃Nonsense； my
dearpractically it was YOU！〃
End