Do you know her--Lady Barbara?
My dear, what is your husband's name ?" Seeing Sylvia uncovered, Lady Barbara, with a tact that was creditable to her, but strangely unsuccessful, also began taking off her hat.

Her sister-in-law was too polite to interfere, but, as a matter of fact, she did not take much pleasure in the notion that Barbara was going to stay a very long time, too.

She was fond of her, but it was not Barbara whom Michael wanted.

She turned her attention to the girl again.
"My husband's away," she said, confidentially; "he is very busy down at Ashbridge, and I daresay he won't find time to come up to town for many weeks yet.

But, you know, Michael and I do very well without him, very well, indeed, and it would never do to take him away from his duties--would it, Michael ?" Here was a shoal to be avoided.
"No, you mustn't think of tempting him to come up to town," said Michael.