sharply.

For one moment she wavered. Then, realising that under the present
conditions resistance was worse than useless, she turned slowly upon her
heel, and marched upstairs with the air of a martyr going to the stake.

"You were right," said his Lordship moodily, as he disposed of the last
piece of pie-crust.

"Right about what?" asked Violet.

"Mud-baths," returned the Bishop.

CHAPTER VI.

IN WHICH MISS ARMINSTER PROPOSES TO MARRY AGAIN.

Cecil and Miss Matilda breakfasted alone the next morning. This was not
by intention, but by fate. Violet and the Bishop, for obvious reasons,
kept their respective rooms. Mrs. Mackintosh had felt it her duty to
breakfast with, and comfort, her friend in distress, likewise to receive
an early account of the doings of the day before; while Smith and
Spotts, hearing that the fugitives had returned, took an early breakfast
and adjourned to the neighboring golf-links. Cecil, however, who slept
well, came down at the usual hour, quite unconscious of what was
impending, and calmly walked into the trap.

After the ancient butler had passed the tea and toast, and then
withdrawn, as was his wont, leaving them to carve out their own
salvation, Miss Matilda lost no time in opening up the contest. She had
been at swords' points with her nephew ever since the evening before, as
a result of his stoutly maintaining his father's innocence, and the
manner in which she reported her midnight meeting would have made even
Marchmont envious.

"And now of course he'll have to marry her," she wound up her recital.

"Good heavens! I hope not!" ejaculated Cecil.

"I'm glad," remarked his aunt stiffly, "that we've at least one point of
agreement."

"Oh, we are quite agreed on that," he returned. "It would never do at
all; in fact it's quite impossible."

"You know, then?" she demanded.

"Know what?" he asked cautiously.

"That she's been married dozens of times already."

"I don't think I can subscribe to more than half a dozen. But Miss
Arminster certainly does seem to have a fondness for that sort of
thing."

"And in the face of such scandalous proceedings do you consider her a
fit person to marry your poor misguided father?"

"I've told you I don't approve," he said, and added: "How did you come
to know about Miss Arminster's marriages?"

"Mr. Marchmont told me."

"Confound him!"

"Cecil! Mr. Marchmont's a gentleman."

"He's a mischief-maker of the first water."