fore she started out to meet
Charlie. She grew hot all over. Surely Mary could not have taken
serious offence at what she had said!

She had no opportunity to do more than think of the possibility,
before she found herself politely but unceremoniously hustled off to
bed, and as she and Gertrude left the drawing-room, an unconscious
backward glance showed her Mrs. Henchman cosily pulling forward a
couple of armchairs to the fireside.

Well! it was natural, of course.

Up in her room she began laying away her hat and jacket and putting
out the dress she would need in the morning, when, after a hasty
knock, Audrey entered, and carefully closed the door behind her.

"Look here, Denys," she said, a little breathlessly, "I have come
up to say that I do think it is too bad of you to go upsetting our
servant. When I came home I found mother in an awful state--perfectly
awful--and all through your interfering with Mary, and telling her to
take care of mother! Of course, Mary did not like it, and poor mother
had to bear it all alone. It _is_ a shame."

So Mary had not taken care of Mrs. Henchman, but had gone up and
complained of Denys. That much was clear!

It did not help Denys that she could see Gertrude, as she brushed out
her long, dark hair, shaking with suppressed laughter, but before she
could think of anything to say to defend herself, Audrey had begun
again.

"I never thought we should have an interfering daughter-in-law," she
said. "You are not Mrs. Henchman _yet_ to give orders to our servant!
Mother is awfully annoyed, and as to Charlie----!"

Denys drew herself up a little.

"I think, Audrey," she said coldly, "that quite enough has been said
about this. I had not the faintest thought of being interfering. I
only spoke to Mary as I should have thought any visitor in my home
might speak to our maid, if mother were alone and ill. And I think
that it would have been more suitable if your mother or Charlie had
spoken to me themselves about it. I will tell them to-morrow how very,
very sorry I am your mother has been upset."

"Oh, I hope you will do nothing of the kind," cried Audrey. "Do
let her forget it, if possible, poor thing! And as for Charlie, _of
course_, mother does not annoy him with worries the first five minutes
he is in the house, and why should he be made angry? as he would be if
he knew. Pray let the whole matter drop."

Denys was silent, and Audrey went away, shutting the door noisily.

"