to examine this decently draped and useful statuary but she was
ushered into a large drawing-room, somewhat over-heated, scented
with hot-house flowers, softly carpeted, much-becushioned, and she
immediately found herself in the embrace of Mrs. Batty, who smelt of
eau-de-cologne. Mrs. Batty felt soft, too, and if she were a lioness
there were no signs of claws or fangs; and her husband, a tall, spare
man with grey hair and a clean-shaven face, bowed over Henrietta's
hand in a courtly manner, hardly to be expected of the best-trained
of wild beasts.

But for these two the room seemed to be empty, until Mrs. Batty said
'Charles!' in a tone of timid authority and Henrietta discovered that
a fair young man, already showing a tendency to baldness, was sitting
at the piano, apparently studying a sheet of music. This, then, was
one of the cubs, and Henrietta, feeling herself marvellously at ease
in this house, awaited his approach with some amusement and a little
irritation at his obvious lack of interest. Aunt Caroline need have no
fear. He was a plain young man with pale, vague eyes, and he did not
know whether to offer one of his nervous hands at the end of over-long
arms, or to make shift with an awkward bow. She settled the matter for
him, feeling very much a woman of the world.

'Now, where's John?' Mrs. Batty asked, and Charles answered, 'Ratting,
in the stable.'

Mrs. Batty clucked with vexation. 'It's the first Sunday for weeks
that I haven't had the room full of people. Now you won't want to come
again. Very dull for a young girl, I'm sure.'

'Well, well, you can have a chat with Miss Henrietta,' Mr. Batty said,