Still, one can't help feeling at odd moments, when the shoe's pinching awfully, that the system is not altogether a just one." "Was that a sincere wish, Val Elster ?" Val wheeled round on Lady Maude, from whom the question came.

She had stolen up to them unperceived, and stood there in her radiant beauty, her magnificent dark eyes and her glowing cheeks set off by a little coquettish black-velvet hat.
"A sincere wish--that my brother should live long to enjoy his honours!" echoed Val, in a surprised tone.

"Indeed it is.

I hope he will live to a green old age, and leave goodly sons to succeed him." Maude laughed.

A brighter hue stole into her face, a softer shade to her eyes: she saw herself, as in a vision, the goodly mother of those goodly sons.
"Are you going to wear _that_ ?" she asked, touching the knot of ribbon in Miss Ashton's hands with her petulant fingers.