She gave a little conscious laugh and instantly adopted his view. "Oh, you like it? I'm so glad; because, you see, these big rooms were really rather my doing. I insisted on the architect's carrying out my own ideas—giving me all the elbowroom I wanted. They have so little imagination." The tall young man with the silver buttons presented himself, as if noiselessly summoned, and she dropped her furs on his arm, said: "Yes—tea, I think; and I'm at home to no one," tossed off her hat, and sank into one of the dove-coloured chairs. The tall young man closed the door behind him, and shut Vance and his hostess into flower-scented privacy. Mrs. Pulsifer turned her anxious eyes on her visitor. "I suppose you were horrified at my telegraphing?"

"Horrified; no, why?"

"I was afraid you thought I oughtn't to ask you to come here at all, because of that wretched prize; that you were afraid of what people might think… . But I really wanted most desperately to see you about Fynes. You see, practically he has the casting vote; the others just cringe to him. And I knew he'd told you to come and see him about an article or something, and was very huffy because you didn't; and I wanted to warn you, and to beg you to do whatever he asks. And when you didn't answer and didn't come I was perfectly miserable… . I know I'm a goose, I know what you'll think… . But I can't help it; I do so want you to get the prize," she said, suddenly leaning forward and laying her hand on his.

Her touch startled him, for he was still absorbed in contemplation of the room. "Oh, that's ever so kind of you," he stammered, feeling he ought to take her hand; but it had already slipped from him, and she had drawn back with one of her uncertain movements. "It's all wrong, I know," she insisted. "I oughtn't to care about it, I oughtn't to have any opinion; you'd think ever so much better of me if I stood aloof and let the committee decide." For a moment a wistful smile gave her thin face the contour of youth. "But the first moment I saw you I felt … " She stood up, moving away with her long step. "Should you like to see the rooms? Do you care for pictures?"