The Limit

he dreams inspired by Du Maurier's drawings when he was a little boy-had been very nearly reali

ume. He was always making up parties, and he had fo

int. Scorning such ribald chaff, he had ordered a magnificent costume of chain armour. Greatly to his satisfaction he had p

n people. For example, Harry, good-looking and a dandy, quite a romantic type, hated dressing up, and cared nothing whatever about his costume; whil

ared far less how they looked, probably because women are always more

ct, should wear ear-rings; so Vaughan called at her house on

wing on her long boots. "Probably he hasn't had his

s with rather painful energy on to the unfortunate young man's ears, the serv

. Wy

ight be inconvenient to them, and that she would catch them in something they didn't want her to know-a true mother's instinct. But not in her wildest dreams had she expected what she saw when she entered the dra

iterally sank

the occasion. She thoroughly enj

"that Van Buren is giving a dinner for the fancy ball!" and she rang an

hours dressing; Daph

e a little make-up. Will you

disgust and horror, looking in the glass and tak

black under the eyes, don't you think so?" Valentia a

e no idea what he wants," s

Valentia went on, holding her head on one side and ho

l," said M

lips are red enough a

interrupted the

gh," he said decidedly; "they ou

me lovely scarlet stuff-the colour of

do," h

t it look

nt," said the yo

id Mrs. Wyburn with a forced smile and a

een about their dress as Romer. I'll go and fetch him, and

airs and cam

r you to see his dress. He's just darkening his eyelash

e was still bright June daylight and painted his lips a brilliant scar

Hellyers' birthday. He only lives three doors from you" (she said this rather reproachfully), "and I dine with him every year on his b

you," said

nk I should find--"

er in paint and powder, patches and lace ruffles, sword and snuffbox. There was a l

hed the left eye rather hurriedly, the result

t a young girl going to a ball in what she (Mrs. Wyburn) called trousers, and while Daphne kept on wrapping herself in the folds of her cloak and t

his motor for the

ry. He was a pierrot in white satin, with a violet tulle ruffle round his neck and a black velvet m

in, bowed low to Mrs. Wyburn, and k

ion Mrs. Wyburn drew hers

ome to the carriage with me. Suppose the Trott-H

ered. "I'm all right. I'm a courtier-of t

g sister-in-law going to a pu

rget; you must read the Midsummer Nigh

point. When I came in I found Valentia with that

never writes in pur

witty?" she asked w

I shouldn't

gh the hall where there was a large looking-glass-Romer's attention wander

ut them in a mile off

s back on his mother, and sta

I don't look

tleman. Of course, you look ridiculous-and, as far as that goes, you are ridi

, r

a patch from one corner

nd shall you allow your wife to

t? And-doesn't Va

golden hair is rather too-stri

e's all

ad!" she answered as

vant op

night, mother. You'll be la

row shoulders, Mrs. Wyburn ste

s from her son's house, she wou

neighbour about how remarkably distinguished and handsome her son and daughter-in-law had looked in co

of her, but they smiled at each other, indulgent to th