Elfrida was looking up with calm inquiry, buttoning a last glove-button.
"Lady Halifax," he said, seeing nothing else for it, "this is Miss Bell, from America, a fellow-student in Paris.

Miss Bell has deserted art for literature, though," he went on bravely, noting an immediate change in his visitor's expression, and the fact that her acknowledgment was quite as polite as was necessary.

"She has done me the honor to look me up this afternoon in the formidable character of a representative of the press." Lady Halifax looked as if the explanation was quite acceptable, though she reserved the right of criticism.
Elfrida took the first word, smiling prettily straight into Lady Halifax's face.
"Mr.Kendal pretends to be very much frightened," she said, with pleasant, modest coolness, and looked at Kendal.
"From America," Lady Halifax repeated, as if for the comfort of the assurance.

"I am sure it is a great advantage nowadays to have been brought up in America." This was quite as delicately as Lady Halifax could possibly manage to inform Kendal that she understood the situation.
Miss Halifax was looking absorbedly at Elfrida.

"Are you really a journalist ?" Miss Halifax asked.