'You absurd girl!'

'Well, ask him yourself.'

So when the waiter came up, Miss Charteris demanded, 'Has Mr. Calthorp
been calling here?'

'What was the name, ma'am, if you please?'

'Calthorp. Has Mr. Calthorp been calling here?'

'Cawthorne? Was it Colonel Cawthorne, of the Royal Hussars, ma'am? He
was here yesterday, but not to-day.'

'I said Calthorp. Has a Mr. Calthorp been inquiring for us to-day?'

'I have not heard, ma'am, I'll inquire,' said he, looking alert, and
again disappearing, while Horatia looked as proud of herself as Cilly had
done just before.

He came back again while Lucilla was repeating his communication, and
assured Miss Charteris that no such person had called.

'Then, what gentleman has been here, making inquiries about us?'

'Gentleman! Indeed, ma'am, I don't understand your meaning.'

'Have you not been telling this young lady that a gentleman has been
asking after us, and desiring to be informed what route we intended to
take?'

'Ah, sure!' said the waiter, as if recollecting himself, 'I did mention
it. Some gentleman did just ask me in a careless sort of way who the two
beautiful young ladies might be, and where they were going. Such young
ladies always create a sensation, as you must be aware, ma'am, and I own
I did speak of it to the young lady, because I thought she had seen the
attraction of the gentleman's eyes.'

So perfectly assured did he look, that Lucilla felt a moment's doubt
whether her memory served her as to his former words, but just as she
raised her eyes and opened her lips in refutation, she met a glance from
him full of ludicrous reassurance, evidently meaning that he was guarding
his own secret and hers. He was gone the next moment, and Horatia turned
upon her with exultant merriment.

'I always heard that Ireland was a mendacious country,' said Cilly.

'And a country where people lose the use of their eyes and ears,' laughed
Rashe. 'O what a foundation for the second act of the drama!'

'Of which the third will be my going home by the next steamer.'

'Because a stranger asked who we were?'

Each had her own interpretation of the double-faced waiter's assertion,
and it served them to dispute upon all the evening.

Lucilla was persuaded that he imagined her an injured beauty, reft from
her faithful adorer by her stern aunt or duenna, and that he considered
himself to be doing her a kindness by keeping her informed of her hero's
vicinity