She could not, indeed, imagine herself, in any extremity, stooping to extract a "tip" from Mr.
Rosedale; but at her side was a man in possession of that precious commodity, and who, as the husband of her dearest friend, stood to her in a relation of almost fraternal intimacy.
In her inmost heart Lily knew it was not by appealing to the fraternal instinct that she was likely to move Gus Trenor; but this way of explaining the situation helped to drape its crudity, and she was always scrupulous about keeping up appearances to herself.

Her personal fastidiousness had a moral equivalent, and when she made a tour of inspection in her own mind there were certain closed doors she did not open.
As they reached the gates of Bellomont she turned to Trenor with a smile.
"The afternoon is so perfect--don't you want to drive me a little farther?
I've been rather out of spirits all day, and it's so restful to be away from people, with some one who won't mind if I'm a little dull." She looked so plaintively lovely as she proffered the request, so trustfully sure of his sympathy and understanding, that Trenor felt himself wishing that his wife could see how other women treated him--not battered wire-pullers like Mrs.Fisher, but a girl that most men would have given their boots to get such a look from.
"Out of spirits?
Why on earth should you ever be out of spirits?
Is your last box of Doucet dresses a failure, or did Judy rook you out of everything at bridge last night ?" Lily shook her head with a sigh.

"I have had to give up Doucet; and bridge too--I can't afford it.

In fact I can't afford any of the things my friends do, and I am afraid Judy often thinks me a bore because I don't play cards any longer, and because I am not as smartly dressed as the other women.

But you will think me a bore too if I talk to you about my worries, and I only mention them because I want you to do me a favour--the very greatest of favours." Her eyes sought his once more, and she smiled inwardly at the tinge of apprehension that she read in them.
"Why, of course--if it's anything I can manage----" He broke off, and she guessed that his enjoyment was disturbed by the remembrance of Mrs.
Fisher's methods.
"The greatest of favours," she rejoined gently.