Page:A M Williamson - The Motor Maid.djvu/52

38 on all the airs in the world, and diamonds in the morning. She 'll treat you like the dirt under her feet, because that 's her conception of her part—and yours. But I 'll introduce you to her if you like."

After a little reflection, I did like; but as it seemed to me that there 'd better not be two airs in the family, I said that I 'd put on none at all, and make no pretensions.

"She 's the kind that doesn't know a lady or gentleman without a label," my kind friend warned me. "You must be prepared for that."

"I 'll be prepared for anything," I assured her. But when it came to the test, I was n't quite. Lady Kilmarny wrote a line to Lady Turnour, and asked if she might bring a maid to be interviewed—a young woman whom she could recommend. The note was sent down to the bride (who of course had the best suite in the hotel, on the first floor) and presently an answer came—saying that Her Ladyship would be pleased to receive Lady Kilmarny and the person in question.

Suddenly I felt that I must go alone. "Please leave me to my fate," I said. "I should be too self-conscious if you were with me. Probably I should laugh in her face, or do something dreadful."

"Very well," Lady Kilmarny agreed. "Perhaps you 're right. Say that I sent you, and that, though you 've never been with me, friends of mine know all about you. You might tell her that you were to have travelled with the Princess Boriskoff That will impress her. She would kiss the boot of a Princess. Afterward, come up and tell me how you got on with 'Her Ladyship.' "