.

"Too bad of you! Why are you so abnormally sharp? Have pity on my
embarrassment," he pleaded, while Dreda shook her yellow mane in
derision.

"You are not embarrassed a bit! You laughed before I did! It's easy to
guess, because that's Maud's favourite subject at present. She
overheard the servants talking, and took a fancy to the word, and now
she drags it in on every possible occasion. What else did she say?
Anything about me?"

"Er--er--"

"She did! I know she did. Don't try to deny it. Was it--nice?"

"Er--" stammered Guy Seton once more, whereupon Dreda drew herself up
with sudden dignity.

"You shouldn't have _allowed_ it! She is only a child; you should not
have allowed her to talk personalities--"

"But I tried to stop her--I did, indeed! I was most uncomfortable. I
tried to change the conversation, but it was no good. Please don't
scold me, I've suffered enough as it is!"

"_How_ have you suffered?" Dreda's eyes widened eagerly. Now she was
on the track of the mystery, and determined to push her inquiries until
all was made plain. "_Who_ made you suffer?"

"Miss Sax--," said Guy involuntarily, and then quickly drew himself up.
"I mean--it's rather awkward for a fellow, don't you know, to listen to
things that he ought not to hear--that are not his business--that would
annoy other people if they happened to overhear."

He flushed as he spoke, and Dreda beamed at him with undisguised
approval. He was so boyish and honest, so blunderingly transparent,
that she felt quite elderly in comparison--a very Sherlock Holmes of
diplomacy!

"And what was it that Rowena _did_ overhear? Oh, I guessed there was
something! She would never have refused to come to-day unless something
had happened to offend her. She has such a dull time of it, poor dear,
and she loves a change. What did Maud say?"

"Miss Dreda, if your sister didn't tell you herself, do you think I
ought to repeat a thing that has already annoyed her?"

"Certainly you ought. It's my business to know, so that I can make
things right. I could easily explain--"

Guy gave a short, irritated laugh.

"There's nothing to explain! Your young sister made an indiscreet
remark which Miss Saxon overheard as she came into the room. It is only
human nature, I suppose, to vent her annoyance upon me, but it's hard
luck all the same, for I could not help myself, and it was horribly
embarrassing for me too!"

"But _what_ did she say