“She has changed,” Miss Arden said.

“Oh, nonsense!” Lawrence replied uneasily. It was really rather mean of Anne to try and spoil his evening.

“She isn’t herself. She’s thinner too.”

“All your imagination!” Lawrence said loudly. “I saw no change in her—except that she has, as I say, blossomed forth.”

“I daresay you didn’t. You’re only a man.”

Lawrence was accustomed to hear his sex referred to in a disparaging way, but to-night it annoyed him.

“That’s as may be. I am at least Elizabeth’s father.”

“It’s not to be expected that you would notice things as I do.”

“I repeat, you’re imagining it. Next you’ll say that her marriage is not a success!”

“I hope not,” she said seriously.

“Good gracious, Anne! Well, really! It’s a good thing we don’t all see things in this morbid way! It struck me that Elizabeth was in great spirits. In fact, a thoroughly happy bride.”

“I daresay,” Miss Arden said crushingly. “All I know is that she’s changed, and doesn’t look well.”

This was very disturbing. Lawrence cleared his throat and sought for an answer.

“A honeymoon is often rather a trying period,” he said airily. Then, as Miss Arden opened her mouth to retaliate, he added hastily, “Time will show.”

“Yes,” said Miss Arden, and left it at that.

*

Mrs. Ramsay appeared next morning soon after breakfast, one end of her fur trailing behind her.

“My dear, I nearly lost my note-case in the street, only such a dear boy picked it up and ran after me with it. How are you, darling? and did you have a jolly time? What an adequate way of putting it!”

“I’m very well, thank you. It’s so nice of you to come to see me. I ought to have called on you with Stephen yesterday, but he made me rest instead. I do hope you’ll forgive me!”

Mrs. Ramsay sat down in a large chair; the rest of her fur slid to the floor and remained there until a solicitous page-boy came to pick it up.

“What nonsense, dear! I didn’t want to see you a bit yesterday, any more than you wanted to see me. I only wanted Stephen. Isn’t that delightfully rude, and don’t I put things badly? Did you get that frock in Paris? It’s charming.”

“Rue de la Paix,” Elizabeth said. “I’m—afraid I was awfully extravagant.”

“One always is. Paris makes me reckless. Such a nice, wicked feeling. I wish I’d brought Thomas. He’s dying to see his new relation.”

“Oh, dear Thomas! He wouldn’t have been allowed here, so it’s just as well you didn’t bring him, perhaps.”

“What a shame! Don’t you think I could have got round that burly porter? Never mind, though. Did you feel gory and mediaeval in Florence?”