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room.
    Barbara gave an impatient sigh, but obeyed. As the door closed behind the maid, she said: "Well, what is it? Are you going to urge me to marry Etienne? I wish you may not put yourself to so much trouble."
    "You might do worse," said Augusta.
    "To be sure I might. We are agreed, then."
    "You know, you should be thinking seriously of marriage. You're twenty-five, my dear."
    "Ah, marriage is a bore!"
    "If you mean husbands are bores, I'm sure I heartily agree with you," responded Augusta. "They have to be endured for the sake of the blessings attached to them. Single, one has neither standing nor consequence."
    "I'll tell you what, Gussie: the best is to be a widow - a dashing widow!"
    "So you may think while you still possess pretensions to beauty. No longer, I assure you. As for 'dashing', that brings me to another thing I had to say. I believe I'm no prude, but those gilded toenails of yours are the outside of enough, Bab."
    Barbara lifted a fold of the gauze to observe her bare feet. "Pretty, aren't they?"
    "Vidal informs me he has seen none but French women (and those of a certain class) with painted nails."
    "Oh, famous!"
    Barbara seemed to be so genuinely delighted by this piece of news that Lady Vidal thought it wiser to leave the subject. "That's as may be. What is more important is what you mean to do with your future. If you take my advice, you'll marry Lavisse."
    "No, he would be the devil of a husband."
    "And you the devil of a wife, my dear."
    "True. I will live and die a widow."
    "Pray don't talk such stuff to me!" said Augusta tartly. "If you let slip all opportunities of getting a husband I shall think you are a great fool."
    Barbara laughed, and getting up from the stool before her dressing table, strolled across the room to a small cupboard and opened it. "Very well! Let us look about us! Shall I set my cap at dear Gordon? I could fancy him, I believe."
    "Sir Alexander? Don't be absurd! A boy!"
    Barbara had taken a medicine bottle from the cupboard and was measuring some of its contents into a glass. She paused, and wrinkled her brow. "General Maitland? That would be suitable: he is a widower."
    "He is as good as promised to Sarah Lennox."
    "That's no objection - if I want him. No, I don't think I do. I'll tell you what, Gussie, I'll have the Adjutant-General!"
    "Good God, that would not last long! They call him the Fire-eater. You would be for ever quarrelling. I wish you would be serious! You need not marry a soldier, after all."
    "Yes, yes, if I marry it must be a soldier. I am quite determined. The Army is all the rage. And when have I ever been behind the mode? Consider, too, the range of possibilities! Only think of the Guards positively massed in the neighbourhood. I have only to drive to Enghien to find an eligible parti. The cavalry, too! All the Household Troops are under orders to sail, and I had always a liking for a well set-up Life Guardsman."
    "That means we shall have George here, I suppose," said Augusta, without any appearance of gratification.
    "Yes, but never mind that! What do you say to a gallant hussar? The 10th are coming out and they wear such charming clothes! I have had a riding dress made a la hussar, in the palest green, all frogged and laced with silver. Ravishing!"
    "You will set the town by the ears!"
    "Who cares?"
    "You may not, but it is not very agreeable for us. I wish you would consider me a little before you put Vidal out of temper."
    Barbara came back into the middle of the room, holding the glass containing her potion. "Where's the use? If I don't, George will. Vidal is such a dull dog!"
    Augusta gave a laugh. "I had rather have him than George, at all events. What are you taking there?"
    "Only my laudanum drops," replied Barbara, tossing off the mixture.
    "Well, I take them myself, but I have the excuse of nervous headaches. You never had such a thing in your life. If you would be less restless -"
    "Well, I won't, I can't! This is nothing: it helps me to sleep.