"No, godmother mine! That sigh was one of pleasure. It has been a most wonderful evening!—wonderful!"
"It was certainly very brilliant," agreed Miss Leigh. "And I'm glad you were made so much of, my dear! That was as it ought to be. Lord Blythe told me he had seldom met so charming a girl!"
Innocent sat up suddenly. "Lord Blythe? Do you know him?"
"No, I cannot say I really know him," replied Miss Leigh. "I've met him several times—and his wife too—there was some scandal about her years and years ago before she was married—nobody ever knew exactly what it was, and her people hushed it up. I daresay it wasn't very much. Anyhow Lord Blythe married her—and he's a very fine man with a great position. I thought I saw you talking to Lady Blythe?"
"Yes"—Innocent spoke almost mechanically—"I had a few minutes' conversation with her."
"She's very handsome," went on Miss Leigh. "She used to be quite beautiful. A pity she has no children."
Innocent was silent. The motor-brougham glided along.
"You and Mr. Jocelyn seem to get on very well together," observed the old lady, presently. "He is a very 'taking' man—but I wonder if he is quite sincere?"
Innocent's colour rose,—fortunately the interior of the brougham was too dark for her face to be seen.
"Why should he not be?" she asked—"Surely with his great art, he would be more sincere than most men?"