yet it seems—doesn't it?—the part that is fullest of an
esoteric fascination?"
"I don't know on what you base that," said Miss Van
Vluyck argumentatively.
"Well, didn't you notice how intensely interested Osric
Dane became as soon as she heard what the brilliant
foreigner—he was a foreigner, wasn't he?—had told Mrs.
Roby about the origin—the origin of the rite—or whatever
you call it?"
Mrs. Plinth looked disapproving, and Mrs. Ballinger visibly
wavered. Then she said: "It may not be desirable to touch
on the—on that part of the subject in general conversa-
tion; but, from the importance it evidently has to a woman
of Osric Dane's distinction, I feel as if we ought not to be
afraid to discuss it among ourselves—without gloves—
though with closed doors, if necessary."
"I'm quite of your opinion," Miss Van Vluyck came briskly
to her support; "on condition, that is, that all grossness
of language is avoided."
"Oh, I'm sure we shall understand without that," Mrs.
Leveret tittered; and Laura Glyde added significantly: "I
fancy we can read between the lines," while Mrs. Ballinger
rose to assure herself that the doors were really closed.
Mrs. Plinth had not yet given her adhesion. "I hardly see,"
she began, "what benefit is to be derived from investigat-
ing such peculiar customs—"
But Mrs. Ballinger's patience had reached the extreme
HYLAND
