‘Well, I don’t know, I’m sure, Miss Ray. She fainted this morning after her last fitting, and her ladyship was very particular she should be kept quiet.’

Ray’s spirits soared. Lady Dryden had obviously gone out. A nice colour came up in her cheeks. She smiled her wide, warm smile and walked into the hall.

‘Oh, yes-she is doing far too much. Get a big stick and keep out everyone but me! I don’t count, but everyone else can just go home again. Where is she-in her room?’

She was half-way up the narrow stair before Palmer could finish a ‘Well, her ladyship said-’ and round the turn before she gave up with a sniff and went back down the basement stairs. Her ladyship wouldn’t be pleased-she knew that well enough-but how was she going to stop Miss Ray? First cousins are not much different from sisters. And Miss Ray a bridesmaid too. She sniffed again and prepared to be aggrieved.

Lila was on the sofa. She looked lovely and fragile. She had a make-up box on her lap with samples of lipstick, rouge, and nail-polish. She had just been trying a sample called apple-blossom, and was contemplating the result in the ivory hand-glass which belonged to her new dressing-case. She was sorry about its being ivory, but Herbert wouldn’t hear of anything else. All the things were inlaid with a delicately traced initial in pale gold, and everyone admired them very much. She looked up when Ray came in, and said in a languid voice.

‘I’m trying all my samples. Do you like this apple-blossom thing?’

Ray sat down and gave the matter her critical attention.

‘Yes, it’s very good. You’d better stick to it. The lipstick is a marvellous match.’

‘They all go together. I’ve just done one nail with the polish. I thought it was good. I look frightful in most of the shades- they’re too bright.’

‘You can’t stand those bright things. I’ve told you so again and again.’

‘You wear them.’ Lila’s voice had a fretful tone.