She did not see any objection to
such a visit, and expressed her opinion that it would be a good
thing that Mary should be taken out. 'She should begin to go
somewhere,' said Lady Cantrip. And so it was decided. On the next
Friday he would come down early in his hansom and drive her up to
Belgrave Square. Then he would take her to Carlton Terrace, and
Lady Cantrip's carriage should pick her up there and bring her
home. He would arrange it all.
'What did you think of the American beauty?' asked Lady Cantrip
when that was settled.
'I thought she was a beauty.'
'So I perceived. You had eyes for nobody else,' said Lady Cantrip,
who had been at the garden-party.
'Somebody introduced her to me, and then I had to walk about the
grounds with her. That's the kind of thing one always does in
these places.'
'Just so. That is what "those places" are meant for, I suppose.
But it was not apparently a great infliction.' Lord Silverbridge
had to explain that it was not an infliction;--that it was a
privilege, seeing that Miss Boncassen was both clever and lovely;
but that it did not mean anything in particular.
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