‘Well,’ she said impatiently, as I hesitated a moment in my surprise, ’I have told you we have come for a call, Nap and I; but if you are going out—­’

‘Oh, that is not the least consequence,’ I returned, waking up to a sense of my duty.  ’I am very pleased to see you and Nap; but you must not stop any longer in this cold porch; the wind is rather cutting.  There is a nice fire in my parlour.’  And I led the way in.

I was rather puzzled about Nap, for I seemed to recognise his sleek head and mild brown eyes; and yet where could I have seen him?  He trotted in contentedly after his mistress, and stretched himself out on the rug Tinker’s fashion; but Lady Betty, instead of seating herself, began to walk round the room and inspect my books and china, making remarks upon everything in a brisk voice, and questioning me in rather an inquisitive manner about sundry things that attracted her notice; but, to my great surprise and relief, she passed Charlie’s picture without remark or comment—­only I saw her glancing at it now and then from under her long lashes.  This mystified me a little; but I thought her whole behaviour a little peculiar.  I had never before seen callers on their first visit perambulating the room like polar bears, or throwing out curious feelers everywhere.  As a rule, they sat up stiffly enough and discussed the weather.

Lady Betty was evidently a character; most likely she prided herself on being unlike other people.  I was just beginning to wish that she would sit down and let me question her in my turn, when she suddenly put up her eye-glasses and burst into a most musical little laugh.

’Oh, do come here, Miss Garston; this is too amusing!  There goes her majesty Gladys of Gladwyn, accompanied by her prime minister.  Don’t they look as though they were walking in the Row?—­heads up—­everything in perfect trim!  They are coming to call—­yes!—­no!—­They are going to the Cockaignes first.  What an escape! my dear creature, if they come here I shall fly to Mrs. Barton.  The prime minister’s airs will be too much for my gravity.’

I gave her a very divided attention, for I was watching Miss Hamilton and her companion with much interest.  I could see that Miss Darrell was chatting volubly; but Miss Hamilton’s face looked as grave and impassive as it had looked on Sunday.  When they had passed out of sight I turned to Lady Betty rather eagerly; she had dropped her eye-glasses, but an amused smile still played round her lips.

’La belle cousine is improving the occasion as usual.  Poor Gladys, how bored she looks! but there is no escape for her this afternoon, for the prime minister has her in tow.  I wonder from what text she is preaching?  Ezekiel’s dry bones, I should think, from her majesty’s face.’

‘Do you know the Hamiltons of Gladwyn very intimately?’ I asked innocently; but I grew rather out of patience when Lady Betty first lifted her eye-glass and stared at me, with the air of a non-comprehending kitten, and then buried her face in a very fluffy little muff in a fit of uncontrolled merriment.