used to be able"--she
laughed a deprecatory laugh--"in the old Clarges Street days. Besides,
your man is coming in and out with tea and things. When he's done, I'll
go on."

The sudden reference to the time-when of that old passionate
relation contained an implication that it was not unspeakable _per
se_--although its threat had been that it would do its worst as a
cupboard-skeleton--but only owing to the childish silliness of a mere
calf-love, a reciprocal misapprehension soon forgotten. Treated with
contempt, its pretensions to skeletonhood fell through. Moreover, that
pending tea had helped to a pause; showing the speaker to be quite
collected, and mistress of the situation.

The little episode had put the Baronet more at his ease. He thought he
might endeavour to contribute to general lubrication on the same lines.
By-the-by, he had met Maurice Tyrawley last week in London--just back
from India--been away much longer than our men usually--Lady Ancester
would remember Maurice Tyrawley--man with a slight stammer--sister ran
away with her father's groom? Her ladyship remembered Maurice very well.
And was that really true about Kathleen Tyrawley? Well--that was
interesting! Was she alive? Oh dear yes--living in Tavistock
Square--fellah made money, somehow. That was _very_ interesting. If the
Countess had Kathleen's address, she would try to call on her, some
time. What was her name? Hopkins. Oh--Hopkins! She felt discouraged, and
not at all sure she should call on her, any time. But she did not say
so. An entry of Mrs. Hopkins's address and full name followed, on some
painfully minute ivory tablets. The Countess was sure to find the place,
owing to her coachman's phenomenal bump of locality. Was Colonel
Tyrawley married?... Oh--Major Tyrawley! Yes, he was married, and had
some rumpus with his wife. Etcetera, etcetera.

This sort of thing served its turn, as did the tea. But both became
things of the past, and left the course clear. Provided always that the
servant did not recrudesce! "Is he gone?" said the Countess. "If he
isn't, I can wait."

"He won't come back now."

"Very well. Then I can go on. I want to talk about our girl and boy....
I don't think there need be any nonsense between Us, Sir Hamilton?"

"About our boy and girl? Why should there?" Best not to add:--"Or
anything else," on the whole!

"I am speaking of his eyesight only. Please understand that I should not
oppose my daughter's wishes on any o