“How d’you mean?” and the other looked puzzled.

Mrs. Hampton hesitated. Then she smiled a little ruefully. “My maid told me that when Ivy arrived she was quite rude to Annie--you know, my nice old housemaid?--because there was no bottle of scent on her dressing-table! There was one, it seems, last time she was here. It had been left by some visitor--I don’t undertake to provide such luxuries.”

“That doesn’t sound very nice, certainly,” Lady Flora looked naïvely surprised.

“Then, if I’m to be really honest, my dear, there’s no doubt that one reason why Joan Rodney has taken such a ferocious dislike to Ivy Lexton is owing to the fact that I stupidly told Ivy this morning of Joan’s marvellous bit of luck--I mean of that big legacy from the American cousin. I’m afraid that’s why Ivy, who behaved all yesterday as if Joan hardly existed, began at once to make up to her! But pretty ways are very much lost on our Joan.”

She began to laugh. She really couldn’t help it, remembering the way her friend had received the younger woman’s overtures of friendship.

Lady Flora looked disturbed, for she was one of those rare human beings to whom it is a pain to think ill of anybody.

“After all, Joan’s money is of no good to anyone but herself, Mary? I don’t see why you should suppose poor little Mrs. Lexton made up to her because of that legacy.”

The other looked at her fixedly.

“Ivy Lexton has a good deal in common with the heroine of Jack’s favourite drawing-room story.”

“What story?” asked Lady Flora. Her host’s rather sly sense of humour had never appealed to her, though they were quite good friends.

“The story of the lady who said to her husband, ‘Oh, do let’s go and see them; they’re so rich!’ to be met with the answer, ‘My dear, I would if it was catching!’”

Lady Flora looked a little puzzled. “He was quite right. Money is not catching, though I suppose most people wish it were.”

“A great many people are convinced that it is, Flora, and our little Ivy is among them. I’m sure she feels that if she rubs herself up against it close enough, a little will certainly come off. And I’m not sure, in her case, that she’s not right!”

But Lady Flora could be obstinate in her mild way.

“I like Mrs. Lexton,” she said gently. “I’m going to call on her when we’re all in town again. She’s promised to take me to a nice quiet night club. I’ve always longed to see one. I want my sister-in-law, I mean Jenny, to know her. Jenny loves young people. She gives amusing little dances----”

“I think you’ll make a mistake if you introduce Ivy to the Duchess.”

“I don’t see why, my dear? After all, Mary, your little friend has been very sweet to me, and that though she knows I’m really poor.”

The other woman gave a quick look at her friend. Sometimes she thought Flora Desmond too good, too simple, even for human nature’s daily food.