grandmother； who； the younger Mrs。 Tramore averred； was killed by the
rumour of her own new birth。 She was the only one of the dragons who
had not been tamed。 Julia Tramore knew the truth about thisshe was
determined such things should not kill HER。 She would live to do
somethingshe hardly knew what。 The provisions of her mother's will
were published in the 〃Illustrated News〃； from which it appeared that
everything that was not to go to Eric and to Julia was to go to the
fortunate Edith。 Miss Tramore makes no secret of her own intentions
as regards this favourite。
Edith is not pretty； but Lady Maresfield is waiting for her； she is
determined Gwendolen Vesey shall not get hold of her。 Mrs。 Vesey
however takes no interest in her at all。 She is whimsical； as befits
a woman of her fashion； but there are two persons she is still very
fond of； the delightful Bertram Jays。 The fondness of this pair； it
must be added； is not wholly expended in return。 They are extremely
united； but their life is more domestic than might have been expected
from the preliminary signs。 It owes a portion of its concentration
to the fact that Mrs。 Tramore has now so many places to go to that
she has almost no time to come to her daughter's。 She is； under her
son…in…law's roof； a brilliant but a rare apparition； and the other
day he remarked upon the circumstance to his wife。
〃If it hadn't been for you；〃 she replied； smiling； 〃she might have
had her regular place at our fireside。〃
〃Good heavens； how did I prevent it？〃 cried Captain Jay； with all the
consciousness of virtue。
〃You ordered it otherwise； you goose！〃 And she says； in the same
spirit； whenever her husband commends her （which he does； sometimes；
extravagantly） for the way she launched her mother： 〃Nonsense； my
dearpractically it was YOU！〃
End