Beyond the Rocks

Next day Lady Anningford called, as she had promised, at Claridge's, and

found Mrs. Brown at home, although it was only three o'clock in the

afternoon.

She had not two minutes to wait in the well-furnished first-floor

sitting-room, but during that time she noticed there were one or two

things about which showed the present occupant was a woman of taste, and

there were such quantities of flowers. Flowers, flowers, everywhere.

Theodora entered already dressed for her afternoon drive. She came

forward with that perfect grace which characterized her every movement.

If she felt very timid and nervous it did not show in her sweet face,

and Lady Anningford perceived Hector had every excuse for his

infatuation.

"I am so fortunate to find you at home, Mrs. Brown," she said. "My

brother has told me so much about you, and I was longing to meet you.

May we sit down on this sofa and talk a little, or were you just

starting for your drive?"

"Of course we may sit down," said Theodora. "My drive does not matter in

the least. It was so good of you to come."

And her inward thought was that she would like Hector's sister. Anne's

frankness and sans gêne were so pleasing.

They exchanged a few agreeable sentences while each measured the other,

and then Lady Anningford said: "You come from Australia, don't you?"

"Australia!" smiled Theodora, while her eyes opened wide. "Oh no! I have

never been out of France and Belgium and places like that. My husband

lived in Melbourne for some years, though."

"I thought it could not be possible," quoth Anne to herself.

"Then you don't know much of England yet?" she said, aloud.

"It is my first visit; and it seems very dull and rainy. This is the

only really fine day we have had since we arrived."

Anne soon dexterously elicited an outline of Theodora's plans and what

she was doing. They would only remain in town until Whitsuntide,

perhaps returning later for a week or two; and Mrs. Devlyn, to whom her

father had sent her an introduction, had been kind enough to tell them

what to do and how to see a little of London. She was going to a ball

to-night. The first real ball she had ever been to in her life, she

said, ingenuously.

And Lady Anningford looked at her and each moment fell more under her

charm.

"The ball at Harrowfield House, I expect, to meet the King of

Guatemala," she said, knowing Lady Harrowfield was Florence Devlyn's

cousin.