replied lightly, with a shrug of the shoulders.

"You've never quarrelled?"

"Oh, no, certainly not!"

He had no intention of revealing that hidden episode. After a moment,
seeing the troubled look on his aunt's face, he put his arm around her
ample waist.

"I'm sorry I mentioned the beastly matter, Dido, honestly I am! Don't
attach too much importance to what I've said. We all have our little
peculiarities, and I just happened to stumble on one of Therese's,
that's all. She doesn't mean any harm. Stand up and let me look at
you. Is that a new gown?"

It evidently was, as her frank pleasure showed. She added a long
string of tortoiseshell beads which Roger had given her on his last
visit, and surveyed the effect in the glass, thinking what a long time
it was since anyone had admired her appearance.

"My dear," she said after a pause, "I think perhaps I ought to tell
Therese about that cable, and give her the chance to explain."

"Don't," commanded her nephew quickly. "She can only say one of two
things--either that she forgot it, or else she'll swear she sent it and
blame the cable office. In either event we sha'n't believe her, and
the result will create an unpleasant atmosphere. Better let it drop."

"I suppose you're right," sighed his aunt. "Only it makes me
uncomfortable."

"It would make us much more uncomfortable to have Therese in one of her
sulky moods, especially with strangers in the house. I don't care
about the doctor chap, he doesn't appear very sensitive, but that
little day-nurse, for instance..."

"She is nice, isn't she? Of course she is a lady. I realised that the
moment I saw her. I recall now that she was in the room when I told
Therese you were coming, and although she made no sign I'm sure she
noticed how upset Therese was. I felt humiliated."

"Oh, so Therese was upset, was she?" mused Roger, pondering this
confirmation of his theory. "I wonder what your little nurse thinks of
her?"

"Oh, Therese is charming to both nurses. The night-nurse, who has been
here from the beginning, would do anything for her. She is always
saying how lovely she is."

"Oh well!"--he yawned and gave a lazy stretch--"that's all to the good.
I'm glad. I have an impression that the little Canadian girl is a
pretty good judge of character, for all she looks so young and
innocent."

Quitting his aunt's room, he sauntered in the direction of his own. He
was fairly satisfied with the exp