‘O yes—­I will be exceedingly careful,’ said Picotee, with great vivacity.  ‘And if there is time I can go on teaching them a little.’  Then Picotee caught Ethelberta’s eye, and colouring red, sank down beside her sister, whispering, ’I know why it is!  But if you would rather have me with you I will go, and not once wish to stay.’

Ethelberta looked as if she knew all about that, and said, ’Of course there will be no necessity to tell the Julians about my departure until they have fixed the time for coming, and cannot alter their minds.’

The sound of the children with Cornelia, and their appearance outside the window, pushing between the fuchsia bushes which overhung the path, put an end to this dialogue; they entered armed with buckets and spades, a very moist and sandy aspect pervading them as far up as the high-water mark of their clothing, and began to tell Ethelberta of the wonders of the deep.

32.  A room in Enckworth court

‘Are you sure the report is true?’

’I am sure that what I say is true, my lord; but it is hardly to be called a report.  It is a secret, known at present to nobody but myself and Mrs. Doncastle’s maid.’

The speaker was Lord Mountclere’s trusty valet, and the conversation was between him and the viscount in a dressing-room at Enckworth Court, on the evening after the meeting of archaeologists at Corvsgate Castle.

’H’m-h’m; the daughter of a butler.  Does Mrs. Doncastle know of this yet, or Mr. Neigh, or any of their friends?’

‘No, my lord.’

‘You are quite positive?’

’Quite positive.  I was, by accident, the first that Mrs. Menlove named the matter to, and I told her it might be much to her advantage if she took particular care it should go no further.’

‘Mrs. Menlove!  Who’s she?’

‘The lady’s-maid at Mrs. Doncastle’s, my lord.’

‘O, ah—­of course.  You may leave me now, Tipman.’  Lord Mountclere remained in thought for a moment.  ’A clever little puss, to hoodwink us all like this—­hee-hee!’ he murmured.  ’Her education—­how finished; and her beauty—­so seldom that I meet with such a woman.  Cut down my elms to please a butler’s daughter—­what a joke—­certainly a good joke!  To interest me in her on the right side instead of the wrong was strange.  But it can be made to change sides—­hee-hee!—­it can be made to change sides!  Tipman!’

Tipman came forward from the doorway.

’Will you take care that that piece of gossip you mentioned to me is not repeated in this house?  I strongly disapprove of talebearing of any sort, and wish to hear no more of this.  Such stories are never true.  Answer me—­do you hear?  Such stories are never true.’

‘I beg pardon, but I think your lordship will find this one true,’ said the valet quietly.

‘Then where did she get her manners and education?  Do you know?’