"Yes; and old Lord Tamperleigh is a cousin of my mother's—which connects Walter and me in a roundabout way."
There was a slight silence, while Rees hovered about her mistress with one or two last attentions and then quietly left the room. As she closed the door, Clodagh looked up from the fan she had been studying so attentively.
"Lady Frances," she said quickly, "you know Lady Tamperleigh very well?"
Lady Frances' eyes became vigilant.
"Yes," she said vaguely—"oh, yes!"
"Then take me with you to her party—as you took me to the Hensleys' and the Vibrants' last week? I'm wild to go somewhere—to go anywhere to-night." She paused excitedly; then, as her eyes scanned Lady Frances's face, her expression fell.
"Of course if there's the least—the very least—difficulty——"
With a swift, tactful movement, Lady Frances came towards her.
"My dear Clodagh! Don't! You know how proud I am of you. My hesitation was merely——"
"Merely what?"