peaking this was only
to last fifteen minutes, but the wardress who had conceived a liking
for her intimated that she wouldn't look too closely at her watch.
Honoria came too--with Mrs. Warren--but after kissing her friend and
leaving some beautiful flowers (which the wardress took away at once
with pretended sternness and brought back in a vase after the
visitors had left) Honoria with glistening eyes and a smile that was
all tremulous sweetness, intimated that Mrs. Warren had so much to
say that she, Honoria, was not going to stay more than that _one_
minute.

Mrs. Warren had indeed so much to impart in the precious half hour
that it was one long gabbled monologue.

"When I heard you'd got into trouble, my darling, I _was_ put about.
Some'ow I'd never thought of your being pinched and acshally sent to
prison. It was in the Belgian papers, and a German friend of
mine--Oh! quite proper I assure you! He's a Secretary of their
legation at Brussels and ages ago he used to be one of my clients
when the Hotel had a different name. Well, he was full of it.
'Madam,' 'e said, 'your English women are splendid. They're going to
bring about a revolt, you'll see, and that, an' your Ulster movement
'll give you a lot of trouble next year.'

"Well: I wrote at once to Praddy, givin' him an order on my London
agents, 'case he should want cash for your defence. I offered to
come over meself, but he replied that for the present I'd better
keep away. Soon as I heard you was sent to prison I come over and
went straight to Praddy. My! He _was_ good. He made me put up with
him, knowin' I wanted to live quiet and keep away from the old set.
'There's my parlour-maid,' 'e says, 'sort of housekeeper to
me--good sort too, but wants a bit of yumourin.' You'll fix it up
with her,' he says. And I jolly soon did. I give her to begin with
a good tip, an' I said: 'Look 'ere, my gal--she's forty-five I
should think--Every one's in trouble _some_ time or other in their
lives, and _I'm_ in trouble now, if you like. And the day's come,' I
said, 'when all women ought to stick by one another.' 'Pears she's
always had the highest opinion of you; very different, you was, from
_some_ of 'er master's friends. I says 'Right-o; then _now_ we know
where we are.'

"Praddy soon got into touch with the authorities, but for some
reason they wouldn't pass on a letter or let me come and see you,
till to-day. But here I am, and here I'm goin' to stay--with
Praddy--