‘He’ll have something to do.’

’He reads by steam, and he has two or three young men with him to take it all down and make other books out of it;—­just as you’ll see a lady take a lace shawl and turn it all about till she has trimmed a petticoat with it.  It is the same lace all through,—­and so I tell father it’s the same knowledge.’

‘But he puts it where more people will find it.’

’The lady endeavours to do the same with the lace.  That depends on whether people look up or down.  Father however is a very learned man.  You mustn’t suppose that I am laughing at him.  He is going to write a very learned book.  Only everybody will be dead before it can be half finished.’  They still went on together, and then he gave her his arm and took her into the place where the strawberries and cream were prepared.  As he was going in he saw Mabel Grex walking with Tregear, and she bowed to him pleasantly and playfully.  ‘Is that lady a great friend of yours?’ asked Miss Boncassen.

‘A very great friend indeed.’

‘She is very beautiful.’

‘And clever as well,—­and good as gold.’

‘Dear me!  Do tell me who it is that owns all these qualities.’

’Lady Mabel Grex.  She is daughter of Lord Grex.  That man with her is my particular friend.  His name is Frank Tregear, and they are cousins.’

‘I am so glad they are cousins.’

‘Why glad?’

‘Because his being with her won’t make you unhappy.’

’Supposing I was in love with her,—­which I am not,—­do you suppose it would make me jealous to see her with another man?’

’In our country it would not.  A young lady may walk about with a young gentleman just as she might with another young lady; but I thought it was different here.  Do you know, by judging English ways, I believe I am behaving very improperly in walking about with you so long.  Ought I not to tell you to go away?’

‘Pray do not.’

’As I am going to stay here so long I wish to behave well in English eyes.’

‘People know who you are, and discount all that.’

’If the difference be very marked they do.  For instance, I needn’t wear a hideous long bit of cloth over my face in Constantinople because I am a woman.  But when the discrepancies are small, then they have to be attended to.  So I shan’t walk about with you any more.’

‘Oh yes you will,’ said Silverbridge, who began to think that he liked walking about with Miss Boncassen.

’Certainly not.  There is Mr Sprottle.  He is father’s Secretary.  He will take me back.’

‘Can not I take you back as well as Mr Sprottle?’

’Indeed no;—­I am not going to monopolise such a man as you.  Do you think that I don’t understand that everybody will be making remarks upon that American girl who won’t leave the son of the Duke of Omnium alone?  There is your particular friend Lady Mabel, and here is my particular friend Mr Sprottle.’