k ease of manner to Mr. Tillington, and that I
had said several things which clearly amused him. Then I remembered all
at once our relative positions. A companion, I felt, should know her
place: it is not her _role_ to be smart and amusing. 'Perhaps,' I said,
drawing back, 'Mr. Tillington would like to remain in his present
quarters till the end of the week, while I am with you, Lady Georgina;
after that, he could have my room; it might be more convenient.'

His eye caught mine quickly. 'Oh, you're only going to stop a week,
then, Miss Cayley?' he put in, with an air of disappointment.

'Only a week,' I nodded.

'My dear child,' the Cantankerous Old Lady broke out, 'what nonsense you
do talk! Only going to stop a week? How can I exist without you?'

'That was the arrangement,' I said, mischievously. 'You were going to
look about, you recollect, for an unsophisticated Gretchen. You don't
happen to know of any warehouse where a supply of unsophisticated
Gretchens is kept constantly in stock, do you, Mr. Tillington?'

'No, I don't,' he answered, laughing. 'I believe there are dodos and
auks' eggs, in very small numbers, still to be procured in the proper
quarters; but the unsophisticated Gretchen, I am credibly informed, is
an extinct animal. Why, the cap of one fetches high prices nowadays
among collectors.'

'But you will come to the hotel at once, Harold?' Lady Georgina
interposed.

'Certainly, aunt. I will move in without delay. If Miss Cayley is going
to stay for a single week only, that adds one extra inducement for
joining you immediately.'

His aunt's stony eye was cold as marble.

So when we got back to our hotel after the baths that afternoon, the
_concierge_ greeted us with: 'Well, your noble nephew has arrived,
high-well-born countess! He came with his boxes just now, and has taken
a room near your honourable ladyship's.'

Lady Georgina's face was a study of mingled emotions. I don't know
whether she looked more pleased or jealous.

Later in the day, I chanced on Mr. Tillington, sunning himself on a
bench in the hotel garden. He rose, and came up to me, as fast as his
languid nature permitted. 'Oh, Miss Cayley,' he said, abruptly, 'I do
want to thank you so much for not betraying me. I know you spotted me
twice in the town yesterday; and I also know you were good enough to say
nothing to my revered aunt about it.'

'I had no reason for wishing to hurt Lady Georgina's feelings,' I
answered, with a