Part 20 (1/2)

”Poor Aunt Adelaide,” Patricia murmured to herself, ”they'll turn her giddy young head.”

”And now,” Lady Tanagra began when Bowen had taken Miss Brent's cup from her. ”I must explain all about this little romance and how it came about.”

Patricia caught Bowen's eye, and saw in it a look of eager interest.

”Patricia wanted to do war work in her spare time,” continued Lady Tanagra, ”so she applied to the V.A.D. at St. George's Crescent. I am on the committee and, by a happy chance,” Lady Tanagra smiled across to Patricia, ”she was sent to me. I saw she was not strong and dissuaded her.”

Miss Brent nodded approval.

”I explained,” continued Lady Tanagra, ”that the work was very hard, and that it was not necessarily patriotic to overwork so as to get ill.

Doctors have quite enough to do.”

Again Miss Brent nodded agreement.

”I think we liked each other from the first,” again Lady Tanagra smiled across at Patricia, ”and I asked her to come and have tea with me, and we became friends. Finally, one day when we were enjoying a quiet talk here in the lounge, this big brother of mine comes along and spoils everything.” Lady Tanagra regarded Bowen with reproachful eyes.

”Spoiled everything?” enquired Miss Brent.

”Yes; by falling in love with my friend, and in a most treacherous manner she must do the same.” Lady Tanagra's tone was matter-of-fact enough to deceive a misanthropist.

Patricia's cheeks burned and her eyes fell beneath the gaze of the others. She felt as a man might who reads his own obituary notices.

”And why was I not told, her sole surviving relative?” Miss Brent rapped out the question with the air of a counsel for the prosecution.

”That was my fault,” broke in Bowen.

Three pairs of eyes were instantly turned upon him. Miss Brent suspicious, Lady Tanagra admiring, Patricia wondering.

”And why, may I ask?” enquired Miss Brent.

”I wanted it to be a secret between Patricia and me,” explained Bowen easily.

”But, Lady Tanagra----” There was a note in Miss Brent's voice that Patricia recognised as a soldier does the gas-gong.

”Oh!” replied Bowen, ”she finds out everything; but I only told her at lunch to-day.”

”And he told me as if I had not already discovered the fact for myself,” laughed Lady Tanagra.

”Patricia wanted to tell you,” continued Bowen. ”She has often talked of you (Patricia felt sure Aunt Adelaide must hear her start of surprise); but I wanted to wait until we could go to you together and confess.” Bowen smiled straight into his listener's eyes, a quiet, friendly smile that would have disarmed a gorgon.

For a few moments there was silence. Miss Brent was thinking, thinking as a judge thinks who is about to deliver sentence.

”And Lady Meyfield, does she know?” she enquired.

Without giving Bowen a chance to reply Lady Tanagra rushed in as if fearful that he might make a false move.

”That is another of Peter's follies, keeping it from mother. He argued that if the engagement were officially announced, the family would take up all Patricia's time, and he would see nothing of her. Oh! Peter's very selfish sometimes, I am to say; but,” she added with inspiration, ”every thing will have to come out now.”

”Of course!” Patricia started at the decision in Miss Brent's tone.