She was dressed in black, with a red camellia in her bosom, and another in the magnificent black hair.  Brand thought he had never seen her look so beautiful, and at once so graciously proud and gentle.  Lady Evelyn went forward to meet her, and greeted her very kindly indeed.  She was introduced to one or two of the girls.  She shook hands with Mr. Brand, and gave him a pleasant smile of greeting.  Lady Evelyn had to apologize for her son’s absence; he had only gone to write a note.

The tall, beautiful Hungarian girl seemed not in the least embarrassed by all these curious eyes, that occasionally and covertly regarded her while pretending not to do so.  Two of the young ladies there were older than she was, yet she seemed more of a woman than any of them.  Her self-possession was perfect.  She sat down by Lady Evelyn, and submitted to be questioned.  The girls afterward told their brother they believed she was an actress, because of the clever manner in which she managed her train.

But at this moment Lord Evelyn made his appearance in great excitement, and with profuse apologies.

“But the fact is,” said he, producing an evening paper, “the fact is—­just listen to this, Natalie:  it is the report of a police case.”

At his thus addressing her by her Christian name the mother started somewhat, and the demure eyes of the girls were turned to the floor, lest they should meet any conscious glance.

“Here is a fellow brought before the Hammersmith magistrate for indulging in a new form of amusement.  Oh, very pretty! very nice!  He had only got hold of a small dog and he was taking it by the two forelegs, and trying how far he could heave it.  Very well; he is brought before the magistrates.  He had only heaved the dog two or three times; nothing at all, you know.  You think he will get off with a forty shillings fine, or something like that.  Not altogether!  Two months’ hard labor—­two solid months’ hard labor; and if I had my will of the brute,” he continued, savagely, “I would give ten years’ hard labor, and bury him alive when he came out.  However, two months’ hard labor is something.  I glory in that magistrate; I have just been up-stairs writing a note asking him to dine with me.  I believe I was introduced to him once.”

“Evelyn quite goes beside himself,” his mother said to her guest, with half an air of apology, “when he reads about cruelty like that.”

“Surely it is better than being callous,” said Natalie, speaking very gently.

They went in to dinner; and the young ladies were very well behaved indeed.  They did not at all resent the fashion in which the whole attention of the dinner-table was given to the stranger.

“And so you like living in England?” said Lady Evelyn to her.

“I cannot breathe elsewhere,” was the simple answer.

“Why,” said the matter-of-fact, silver-haired lady, “if this country is notorious for anything, it is for its foggy atmosphere!”