in herself. "And so
she took the little boy--Charlie, isn't it?--to the British Museum? Go
on, dear!"

"Not Charlie, Mrs. Wyburn. It was little Laurence--little Laurence. He
was called Laurence after his grandfather, Lord Dorking. It's the rule
in the Totness family; the second son is always called after the
grandfather, the eldest son after his father, and the third son--I mean,
of course, if there is one--after the mother's father. Don't you think
it's a very sensible plan, dear?"

Mrs. Wyburn gave her friend first a sympathetic smile, and then a
murderous glance.

"Yes. Well?"

"Oh yes. Well, she was just pointing out something to little
Laurence--he's an intelligent boy, and I dare say he was enjoying it
very much--when, to her great surprise, _who_ should she see but Mrs.
Romer Wyburn, talking away like anything on a seat with--who do you
think?"

"Who?"

"That young man Harry de Freyne--her cousin, isn't it?"

"How extraordinary!" exclaimed Mrs. Wyburn. "Did they seem uncomfortable
when they saw Jane?"

"Oh dear, no, my dear. They seemed most comfortable. Jane bowed to
them--of course rather coldly, she says--and they smiled and nodded, and
Valentia kissed her hand to Laurence. Of course, Jane was very much
pained and shocked about it all. I must say her first thought, dear, was
that I should tell you. Jane Totness is a thoroughly good woman--so
thoughtful."

"Do you see anything so very peculiar about it?" said Mrs. Wyburn. "You
know, the young man--I disapprove of him as strongly as any one can--but
he's an artist, and she is his cousin, and perhaps he wanted to show her
something in the British Museum?"

"My dear Mrs. Wyburn, far be it from me to look on the dark side of
things, but, as Jane said, who on earth would go to the British Museum,
unless they were dragged there by force, except to have a private
interview?"

"But if he wanted to speak to her alone, I don't see why he shouldn't
call on her."

"That's just it. If it were a simple, innocent, harmless conversation,
that is what he would have done. But it was quite clear that there was
something clandestine about it, and you may be quite sure Romer knew
nothing of it. Besides, they are always together."

"It does look odd," said Mrs. Wyburn. "What would you advise me to do?
Shall I speak to my son or my daughter-in-law about it?"

"To neither, my dear. If you speak only to your son, he will tell her,
and she will get round him, and pr