Anne. Supposing she was ignorant, he was not
going to be the one to reveal Anne's refuge. And if she did know, Ware
was certain that Mrs. Parry would tell him all, since she was aware how
deeply he loved the governess. Thus in another five minutes the young
man found himself seated in the big armchair opposite the old lady. She
was rather grim with him.

"You have not been to see me for ever so long," said she, rubbing her
beaky nose. "Your Royal Princesses have taken up too much of your time,
I suppose. Oh, I know all about them."

"I am sorry they did not stay for a few days," replied Giles in his most
amiable tone. "I wished to introduce them to you."

"You mean present me to them," corrected the old dame, who was a
stickler for etiquette. "They are genuine Princesses, are they not?"

"Oh, yes. But they are not royal. Princess Karacsay is the wife of a
Magyar noble. She is not an Austrian, however, as she came from Jamaica.
The younger, Princess Olga, is----"

"Jamaica," interrupted Mrs. Parry! "Humph! That is where Anne Denham was
born. Queer this woman should come from the same island."

"It's certainly odd," replied Giles. "But a mere coincidence."

"Humph!" from Mrs. Parry. "Some folks make their own coincidences."

"What do you mean, Mrs. Parry?"

"Mean? Humph! I don't know if I should tell you."

Giles was now on fire to learn her meaning. Evidently Mrs. Parry did
know something, and might be able to help him. But seeing that she was
slightly offended with him, it required some tact to get the necessary
information out of the old lady. Giles knew the best way to effect his
purpose was to feign indifference. Mrs. Parry was bursting to tell her
news, and that it would come out the sooner if he pretended that he did
not much care to hear it.

"There is no reason why you should tell me," said he coolly. "I know all
about the Princess Karacsay. She and her daughter only came down here
for a rest."

"Oh, they did, did they, Ware? Humph!" She rubbed her nose again, and
eyed him with a malignant pleasure. "Are you sure the elder Princess
didn't come down to see Franklin?"

"She doesn't know him," said Giles, trying to be calm. "She took a walk
in the Priory woods. I suppose that is how the mistake----"

"I don't make mistakes," retorted Mrs. Parry, with a snort. "I know a
new gardener who is employed at the Priory. He told Jane, who told me,
that Princess Karacsay, the mother, called on Franklin the oth