ng but her own
affairs," said the duke more hopefully.

"Anyhow, it's no use worrying about it. I expect it'll be all right,"
said Pollyooly in a comforting tone.

The duke was so far reassured by her careless serenity as presently to
resume his easy conversation with her. That evening, since he was
dining alone, he sent for her to come to him at dessert, and talked to
her again. His was a sociable nature; and in view of the presence of
her and the Lump he had not invited any friends to relieve the
loneliness of his stay at the court.

Lady Salkeld arrived in time for lunch next day; and at lunch Pollyooly
and the Lump met her. The duke was on tenterhooks, needlessly, for she
bestowed a tepid kiss on Pollyooly, tapped the cheek of the Lump even
more tepidly, and addressed herself peaceably to her lunch.

But after a while she began to give her attention to the Lump, looking
at him earnestly now and again, and blinking. Then she said:

"That child reminds me of somebody, Osterley. Where did you pick him
up?"

"These red Deepings are all alike," said the duke carelessly.

"Oh? He's a red Deeping, is he? Who's his father?" said Lady Salkeld
almost briskly.

"It's a secret," said the duke with perfect truthfulness, for he did
not know.

Lady Salkeld looked at him, sniffed, and said with some tartness:

"Well, I never expected you to be mysterious, Osterley."

The duke bore the reproach with patient meekness, and said nothing. It
suited him very well that his sister should be giving her attention to
the Lump. From the Lump nothing was to be learned.

Lady Salkeld's coming made no difference to their lives. Pollyooly
went on her early morning rambles with the Lump; from breakfast to noon
she did her lessons and then went for a sedate walk with Miss Belthorp.
After lunch she played with the Lump till it was time to drive out to
tea with the duke. Naturally she met the same people again and again,
and was now on very friendly terms with some of them. The duke,
regarding her with something of the feeling of an impresario, and
finding that she was everywhere welcomed as an authentic angel child,
began to take pride in displaying her. Also he began to take greater
pleasure in her society. Frequently, when the morning lessons were
over, he would come up to the schoolroom and take her out for a walk
with him. He liked to stroll about his estate and thrill with the
feelings of a landed proprietor.

Po