The Powers and Maxine

								

In one corner is a particularly comfortable, cushiony lounge where, I
suppose, the distinguished author lies and thinks out his subjects, or
dreams them out. And it was to this that Di led me.
She settled me among some fat pillows of old purple and gold brocade,
and asked if she should ring and get a little brandy.
"No," I said, "I shall feel better in a few minutes. It's so nice and
cool here."
"You look better already!" exclaimed Di. "Soon, when you've lain and
rested awhile, you'll be a different girl."
"Ah, how I wish I could be a different girl!" I sighed. "A strong,
well girl, and tall and beautiful, and admired by everyone,--like
you--or Maxine de Renzie."
"What makes you think of her?" asked Di, quickly.
"Ivor was just talking to me of her. You know he calls me his 'pal,' and
tells me things he doesn't tell everybody. He thinks a great deal about
Maxine, still."
"She'd be a difficult woman to forget, if she's as attractive off the
stage as she is on."
"What a pity we didn't come in time to meet here when she was playing in
London with George Allendale. Everybody used to invite her to their
houses, it seems. Ivor was telling me that he first met her here, and
that it's such a pleasant memory, whenever he comes to this house. I
suppose that's one reason he likes to come so much."
"No doubt," said Di sharply.
"He got so fascinated talking of her," I went on. "He almost forgot that
he had a dance with Mrs. Allendale. Of course Maxine had made a great
hit, and all that; but she didn't stand quite as high as she does now,
since she's become the fashion in Paris. Perhaps she had nothing except
her salary, then, whereas she must have saved up a lot of money by this
time. I have an idea that Ivor would have proposed to her when she was
in London if he'd thought her success established."
"Nonsense!" Di broke out, her cheeks very pink. "As if Ivor were the
kind of man to think of such a thing!"
"He isn't very rich, and he is very ambitious. It would be bad for him
to marry a poor girl, or a girl who wasn't well connected socially. He
has to think of such things."
I watched the effect of these words, with my eyes half shut; for of
course Di has all her mother's money, two hundred thousand English
pounds; and through the Mountstuarts, and her aunt who is married to the
Foreign Secretary, she has got to know all the best people in England.
Besides, the King and Queen have been particularly nice to her since she
was presented, so she has the run of their special set, as well as the
political and artistic, and "old-fashioned exclusive" ones.
"Ivor Dundas is a law unto himself," she said, "and he has plenty of
good connections of his own. He'll have a little money, too, some day,
from an aunt or a god-mother, I believe. Anyway, he and Miss de Renzie
had nothing more than a flirtation. Aunt Lilian told me so. She said
Maxine was rather proud to have Ivor dangling about, because everyone