y. Then:

"My aunt has four eggs," I said simply.

She turned away, ostensibly to pick a flower, but I saw her shoulders
shaking. At length:

"There is a pig in the grass," she said. "Its name is Norval."

"The doll is on its hind legs," I replied, getting up. "As for me, is
it not that I shall have been about to go? Adieu, mademoiselle."

"Er--au revoir, monsieur."

"That's better," said I. "And now, what's the trouble, my dear?"

Well, it was about the chauffeur. You see, she was spending the summer
here in the chateau. Yes, the chateau above us, white on the hillside.
She and a companion--a girl--alone, with a household of their own, very
happy, very comfortable...

"We are really, you know. Don't think we're suffragists. Truth is,
I'd got about sick of men, and thought I'd take a rest. I heard of
this old place to be let furnished, came to see if it was half as nice
as it sounded, and never even went back to England to collect Betty.
Just couldn't leave it. Betty followed post-haste with the servants
and heavy luggage, and--and--"

"And the parrot?" I hazarded.

"No. Oh, the linen and everything. I'd got the car with me. We've
been here nearly two months now, and I love it more every day. Don't
miss men a bit, either."

This last in an inimitable tone, half nonchalant, half defiant.

"I expect they do most of the missing."

"Thanks, awfully. However, I may tell you the family's been rather
narky--"

"I beg your pardon?"

"Narky. Like a nark."

"Of course. How stupid of me! Same root as 'snirksome.' As you were."

"Well, rather ratty about it all. Said it was all ridiculous and
unheard of."

"Did they use the word 'proceeding'?"

"They did."

"Ah!"

"The one thing that sort of stopped them from really doing anything was
the fact that Betty was with me. Betty's dear, and they all know it.
And her being here, I suppose, seemed to save it from being what's
called an 'impossible position.' Well, a week ago comes a letter from
the Brethes--that's my uncle and aunt--saying they're motoring through
Austria to Italy, and are going to stay a night at Laipnik on the way.
Would like to run over and see me, as they understand Savavic--that's
me--is only thirty miles away. All very nice."

"Sweet of them." I agreed.

"Isn't it! Only, three days ago Betty gets a wire to say her mother's
ill, and she has to bolt for the night train to Paris."

"Yes. So that uncle dear mustn