"Yes—but don't look so unhappy! She will bear up—even if they are beaten. And they will be beaten. Fontenoy's hopes have been going down. The Government will get through this clause at all events—by a shave."
"What a fuss everybody is making about this Bill!"
"Well, you don't root up whole industries without a fuss. But, certainly,
Maxwell has roused the country finely."
"She will break down if it goes on," said Lady Madeleine, in a melancholy voice.
Naseby laughed.
"Not at all! Lady Maxwell was made for war—she thrives on it. Don't you, too, enjoy it?"
"I don't know," said the girl, drearily. "I don't know what I was made for."
And over her feather fan her wide eyes travelled to the distant ogress figure of her mother, sitting majestical in black wig and diamonds beside the Russian Ambassador. Naseby's also travelled thither—unwillingly. It was a disagreeable fact that Lady Kent had begun to be very amiable to him of late.
Lady Madeleine's remark made him silent a moment. Then he looked at her oddly.
"I am going to offend you," he said deliberately. "I am going to tell you that you were made to wear white satin and pearls, and to look as you look this evening."