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sense, Sophia, in attempting the impossible—you cannot make a sow’s ear into a silk purse. Miss Trowle has the face and figure of a little drab pinched bird. She would look ridiculous in fine feathers.”
    “Good God, Charles, the gowns I propose are not of primrose and scarlet silk. I suggest a few new things—simple and modest. She need not look like an undernourished sparrow if, with a little help, we can convert her into a plump robin. How can you who are so fastidious accept her as she is? I realize that Miss Trowle is not beautiful, but there is no need for her to appear as ugly as is humanly possible.”
    “Did I say that Miss Trowle is not beautiful? Miss Trowle’s appearance is not beautiful but she herself has a beauty most profound. Her beauty flows through her fingertips and creates music. Her appearance before the world is a redundancy—her clothing is irrelevant.”
    Sophia paused in her thought for fully a minute and then decided a change in subject matter was in order.
    “Well then, Charles, now that we have disposed of the Austrian ambassador with a mere ball what are your plans for Count Orlov?”
    “I had intended to discuss the count with you, Sophia. The Russian cooperation is very important to the government and Orlov’s advice to the Czar is therefore quite critical. I have been in meetings with the man all week and I have come to respect his judgment.”
    “And you intend to host a ball for that one as well?”
    “Of course not. Now it is you, my dearest aunt, who are being ‘stoopid.’ Orlov could never tolerate what passes as a pleasant evening in the ton. He is too serious and, like you, unalterably opposed to the ‘dissipations of the idle rich.’ You would like him I think. In fact, he has heard of your work and has asked to meet you.”
    “I know of his work as well and I have been scheming all week to arrange just such a meeting.”
    “What is your suggestion then?” Waterston asked.
    ‘‘Perhaps a very small dinner party, Charles.”
    “The count, myself, my colleague, young Thomas Worthing, and you my dear aunt?”
    “Not quite that small, Charles. Even at my age, I object to being the only woman. We should, I think, invite Nancy Owens, who is a particular friend of Mr. Worthing’s, and since Worthing is Lady Diana’s cousin, I think it would be entirely appropriate to invite your Lady Diana as well. Then we will have evened out the numbers, you see.”
    Waterston hesitated. “My apologies, Sophia, you really are a diplomat. Have you elected yourself Thomas Worthing’s fairy godmother? I can assure you that young man will have no difficulty arranging his own life. He is quite devoted to Miss Owens, and as she is an intelligent and sensible sort of creature, she is quite equally devoted to him. I fail to see how you hope to improve on the situation.”
    “Pooh, Charles. All you say is very true. But there is a great deal of opposition because of her origins in trade.”
    “I beg your pardon, Sophia?”
    “You can be so dense, Charles. His family does not approve the match. I daresay he is reluctant to confide in you about his own family, but the two young people have been reduced to desperate stratagems to have even a simple conversation together.”
    “And you think Count Orlov’s dinner an appropriate occasion for a tête-à-tête?”
    “Not precisely, Charles, but Nancy Owens is the sort of young person the count is anxious to learn about. It will go very well, that is, if your Diana approves.”
    “Diana is, of course, very conscious of her birth and position, but she is not an antiquarian about such matters. Moreover, she will, of course, follow my judgment in the matter. Have no fears on that matter, Sophia.”
    “Excellent, Charles. Then I will make the arrangements with your staff.”
    Waterston seemed deep in thought for a moment before he spoke, “Do you think it entirely appropriate to exclude Miss Trowle?”
    Lady Spencer responded almost a shade