Mrs. Nunn, although she had talked with much heat, was still collected enough to console herself with the reflection that Anne would be terrified into sailing with her on the morrow; it was incomprehensible to her well-regulated mind that any young lady in her niece’s position in life would consent to a scandal.

To do her justice, she had no wish to precipitate Anne into an act which she believed must be fatal to her happiness, and she trusted to further argument to persuade her to return to London if only for the trousseau. With her niece and the poet on different sides of the equator she would answer for the result.

Nevertheless, she called in Lady Hunsdon and Lady Constance Mortlake, and fairly enjoyed the consternation visible upon the bright satisfied countenance of her Maria. Lady Hunsdon, indeed, thought it a great pity that Anne had not spared her son by selecting one of the beaux of Bath House instead of the dissolute poet.

“It is quite a tragedy!” she said with energy, “and I for one cannot permit it. I feel as if it were my fault——”

“It is,” said Lady Constance.

“But is it? I am inclined to blame my son, as he brought me here to reform Mr. Warner—and that part of the work I take credit for——”

“Devil a bit. He never would have come to Bath House without Anne Percy as a bait. I have learned that he was several times seen staring through the windows of the saloon before he accepted your invitation.”

“In that case he would have managed to meet her even had I not taken him in hand.”

“Logical but doubtful. He had long since lost the entrÉe to Bath House and to all the Great Houses. Only you, worse luck, had the power to bring him into a circle where he was able to meet the girl.”

“Then you must admit that I have done some good. Had he not been able to meet her, he no doubt would have gone from bad to worse. I at least have been the medium in his reform, the necessary medium.”

“I don’t believe in reform.”

“You were brought up at the court of George IV.”

“So were you, and therefore should have more sense. Warner is temporarily set up. No doubt of that. He feels a new man and looks like one. No doubt he has sworn never to drink again and means it. But wait till the honeymoon has turned to green cheese. Wait till he begets another poem. Poets to my mind have neither more nor less than a rotten spot in the brain that breaks out periodically, as hidden diseases break out in the body. Look at poor Byron.”

It was Lady Hunsdon’s turn to be satiric. “Poor dear Byron must have had a row of rotten spots one of which was always in eruption. One may judge not so much by his achievements as by his performances.”

“Never mind!” cried Lady Constance, the colour deepening in her pendulous cheeks streaked with purple. “He was the most beautiful mortal that ever breathed and I was in love with him and am proud of it.”

“I feel much more original that I was not——”

“Oh, dear friends,” cried Mrs. Nunn, pathetically. “We have to do with a living poet—unhappily. Byron has been in Hucknall-Torkard church these twenty years. Do advise me.”

“Stay and see it through,” said Lady Constance. “I know love when I see it. It is so rare nowadays that it fairly wears a halo. By and by it will be extinct on earth and then we shall be kneeling to St. Eros and St. Venus and forget all the naughty stories about them, just as we have forgotten the local gossip about the present saints. You cannot prevent this match. You cannot even postpone it. I regret it as much as you do, but I cannot help sympathising with them! So young and so full of high and beautiful ideals! They will be happy for a time. Who knows? He really may be a new man. Maria can convince herself of anything she chooses; I feel disposed to take a leaf out of her book.”

Mrs. Nunn set her lips, thrust her bust up and her chin out. She looked obstinate and felt implacable. “I go to-morrow. Upon that I am resolved. I should be criminal to encourage her——”

There was a tap at the door. A servant entered with a note.

“From Anne!” announced Mrs. Nunn. She dismissed the servant and read it aloud:

Mrs. Nunn called in her maid and sent a verbal refusal to see her niece.

“I would have saved her if I could.” She was now quite composed, in the full sense of duty done. “But it is imperative that I go to-morrow and announce aloud my disapproval of this unfortunate marriage. I shall renounce my guardianship of her property the day I return to London. I cannot save her, so I wash my hands.”

“I shall stay for the wedding,” said Lady Constance, “and all London can know it.”

“It is my duty also to remain,” said Lady Hunsdon, “and my son must be best man. But Emily is quite right to go.”