Dyce had of course omitted all mention of Constance in his letters to Alverholme.
"They give their approval," he replied, "because they have confidence in my judgment. I fancy," he added with a modest smile, "that their ambition, in this respect, is not altogether satisfied, but—I have said nothing whatever to them about the peculiarity of Constance's position; I didn't feel justified in doing so."
"You may tell them everything," said Lady Ogram, graciously.
She one day received a letter from Mrs. Toplady, which gave her great satisfaction. It seemed to re-establish her vigour of mind and body; she came downstairs, lunched with her young friends, and talked of going to Wales.
"May is enjoying herself greatly; she must stay a little longer. The day before yesterday she was at a garden party at Lady Honeybourne's, where they acted 'As You Like It' in the open air."
"There was mention of it yesterday in the papers," remarked Lashmar.
"Yes, yes; I saw. And May's name among the guests—of course, of course. I notice that Lord Dymchurch was there too."
She ended with a quavering laugh, unexpected and rather uncanny.
"And the much-discussed Mr. Langtoft," put in Constance, after a keen look at the mirthful hippocratic face.
"Langtoft, yes," said Dyce. "I don't quite know what to think of that fellow. There seems to me something not quite genuine about him. What is he doing at Lady Honeybourne's garden party? It looks like tuft-hunting—don't you think, Constance?"