r
own, and stronger still in that it never lost self-command, which had
so established the clergyman's daughter in her respect and confidence.
Yet the domineering instinct now and then prompted her to outrage a
dignity she admired, and her invariable defeat was a new satisfaction
when she calmly looked back upon it.

"You mustn't mind me," she said presently, when Constance had quietly
refused to make conjectures about the subject under dissuasion. "Isn't
it natural enough that I should be upset when I hear such news as this?
I wanted to have a talk with May this morning, but now--"

She broke off, and hung her head gloomily.

"In your position," said Constance, "I should find out by a simple
inquiry whether Miss Tomalin is engaged or likely to be. She will
answer, I am sure, readily enough. She doesn't seem to be at all
reticent."

"Of course I shall do so; thank you for the advice, all the same. Would
you mind bringing her up here? If you prefer it, I will ring."

Scrupulousness of this kind always followed when Lady Ogram had behaved
ill to her secretary. The smile with which Constance responded was a
ratification of peace. In a few minutes the old lady and May were
chatting together, alone, and without difficulty the great doubt was
solved.

"I'm thinking of going to London for a week or two--" thus Lady Ogram
approached the point--"and I should rather like to take you with me."

"It's very kind of you," said May, with joy in her eyes.

"But I want to know whether you are quite independent. Is there
anyone--beside Mr. and Mrs. Rooke that you would have to consult about
it?"

"No one whatever. You know that I am long since of age, Lady Ogram."

"If you like, call me your aunt. It's simpler, you know."

"Certainly I will. I am quite free, aunt."

"Good. I may take it for granted, then, that you have formed no ties of
any kind?"

May shook her head, smiling as though at a thought which the words
suggested, a thought not unpleasing, but not at all difficult to
dismiss. Thereupon Lady Ogram began to talk freely of her projects.

"I shall go up to town in a fortnight--at the end of this month. Of
course you must have some things, dresses and so on. I'll see to that.
Before we leave Rivenoak, I should like you to meet a few people, my
friends at Hollingford particularly, but in a very quiet way; I shall
ask them to lunch with us, most likely. Shall you want to go back to
Hollingford before leaving for Lon