"'Come one, come all.'" He looked at her smilingly.
"Is it always the same?
Are you still in love with all the dear old abuses ?" "And do you still hate everything that wasn't made last week ?" "Oh no! We only hate what cheats or oppresses the people." "The people ?" echoed Diana, with an involuntary lift of the eyebrows, and she looked round the immense hall, with its costly furniture, its glaring electric lights, and the band of bad fresco which ran round its lower walls.
Oliver Marsham reddened a little; then said: "I see my cousin Miss Drake.

May I introduce her ?--Alicia!" A young lady had entered, from a curtained archway dividing the hall from a passage beyond.

She paused a moment examining the company.

The dark curtain behind her made an effective background for the brilliance of her hair, dress, and complexion, of which fact--such at least was Diana's instant impression--she was most composedly aware.

At least she lingered a few leisurely seconds, till everybody in the hall had had the opportunity of marking her entrance.