eels?" said Irene, who wasn't listening, but getting out
writing-materials. "You may go on talking, but don't expect me to
answer, because I shan't. I'm going to write to Gwen all about it."

Her brother started, and became suddenly serious. "No, 'Re!" he
exclaimed. "At least, not yet. I don't want Gwen to know anything about
it. Don't let's have any more false hopes than we can help. Ten to one
it's only a flash in the pan!... Don't cry about it, ducky darling! If
it was real, it won't stop there, and we shall have something worth
telling."

So Irene did not write her letter.

* * * * *

That evening the Squire was very silent, saying nothing about the long
conversation he had had with Gwen's mother. His good lady did not come
down to dinner, and if she asked him any questions about it, it was when
he went up to dress; not in the hearing of his son or daughter. They
only knew that their mother had not seen Lady Ancester when she called,
and curiosity about the visitor had merged in the absorbing interest of
Miss Scatcherd's sudden visibility.

But no sooner had Irene--who was the ladies, this time--departed to
alleviate the lot of her excellent mamma, who may have been very ill,
for anything the story knows, than Sir Hamilton told the pervading
attendant-in-chief to look alive with the coffee, and get that door
shut, and keep it shut, conveying his desire for undisturbed seclusion.
Then he was observed by his son to be humming and hawing, somewhat in
the manner of ourselves when asked to say a few words at a public
dinner. This was Adrian's report to Irene later.

"Had a visitor to-day--s'pose they told you--Lady Ancester. Sorry your
mother wasn't up to seeing her."

"I know. We passed her coming away. Said how-d'ye-do in a hurry. What
had her ladyship got to say for herself?" Thus far was mere recognition
of a self-assertion of the Baronet's, as against female triviality. He
always treated any topic mooted in the presence of womankind as mere
froth, and resumed it as a male interest, as though it had never been
mentioned, as soon as the opposite sex had died down.

"We had some talk. Did you know she was coming?"

"Well--yes--after a fashion. Gwen's last letter said we might expect a
descent from her mamma. But I had no idea she was going to be so
prompt."

"She sent over to tell us, this morning. They took the letter up to your
mother. I had gone over to the Hanger, to preve