It was hardly possible, of course, that the indiffer*
ence of this stiff provincial should pique Camelia
into an attitude that might compromise real inter*
ests ; no, hardly possible ; yet Mrs. Fox-Darriel,
with some acuteness, determined that all her efforts
should tend to make such an absurdity impossible
indeed.
Ugly Mary was evidently In love with the unat-
tractive Diogenes ; but Camelia need not know that.
Mrs. Fox-Darriel almost laughed at herself while she
meditated ; Camelia could hardly intend more than
the purposeless capturing of Diogenes ; Camelia's
head was perfectly sound when it came to decisive
extremes. Only — well — women, all women, were
such fools sometimes. That bounding, pursuing
step across the lawn had given Mrs. Fox-Darriel a
new impression of Camelia.
" Look, Mamma, is not this beautiful ? Look,
Frances." Camelia held out a branch of white
roses, buds and leaves climbing on lovely curves to
a heavy, swaying flower ; — " it is such a perfect
spray that I am going to attempt a Japanese ar-
rangement with this bit of pine. Mary, will you
fetch me that bronze vase out of the morning room
— with its little stand, you know — and have it filled

72



THE CONFOUNDING OF CAMELIA

with water ; and, Mary, — " Mary was departing
obediently, " a pair of scissors — don't forget. If
there is anything I dislike," Camelia went on, hers
was always a temperate manner of speech, " it is a
heavy mass of flowers bunched together with all the
individuality, all the form and vitality, of line quite
lost."

She smiled at Mrs. Jedsley as she spoke, skimming
caressing finger-tips over her rose branch, and adding,
"You may see me at your place to-morrow, Mrs.
