Part 30 (1/2)

_There is something shady about the poor child's father_, wrote Mrs.

Carmyle, _but Lady A. has got no change out of her so far_.

”I am looking forward greatly to making your father's acquaintance, Miss Welwyn,” said Lady Adela, with absolute sincerity. ”Now, I wonder if I know any of your mother's people. I don't think you have mentioned her maiden name.”

”She was a Banks,” replied Miss Welwyn readily.

_Bill, dear, this little girl is splendid!_ recorded Connie enthusiastically.

”I beg your pardon?” said Lady Adela.

”A Banks,” repeated Tilly politely.

Lady Adela nodded her head intelligently.

”Ah, to be sure!” she said. ”Let me see. Are they a Warwicks.h.i.+re family, now?”

”Or is it a Cornish name?” queried Sylvia, with an encouraging smile.

”No,” said Tilly. ”Mother came from Bedfords.h.i.+re--or else Cambridges.h.i.+re,” she added rather breathlessly, for the four eyes of the sphinxes were upon her once more.

”But, dear Miss Welwyn--” began Sylvia.

_I can stand this no longer!_ scribbled Connie, and threw down her pen.

”Thank goodness, that's over!” she exclaimed, rising and coming over to the fire. ”What a nuisance affectionate husbands are! Talking of husbands, Sylvia, I hear you are going to marry a plumber.”

Lady Adela and Sylvia, taken in flank, both turned and eyed the frivolous interloper severely. Had they not done so, they would have noted that Miss Welwyn's teacup had almost leaped from its saucer.

”Dear Connie, you are priceless,” commented Sylvia patronisingly. ”I wonder where you got your quaint sense of humour.”

”Lady Adela was my informant,” said Connie, quite unruffled. She had drawn the enemy's fire upon herself, which was precisely what she had intended to do. ”Jolly sensible of you, too! A plumber is a useful little thing to have about a house. My Bill is practically one, you know, although he calls himself something grander. Now, what about a four-handed game of billiards before dinner? Do you feel inclined to play, Miss Welwyn?”

”I am rather out of practice,” said Tilly dubiously.

”Never mind!” said Connie. ”You can play with d.i.c.ky against Mr.

Mainwaring and me.”

She walked to the foot of the staircase, and called up: ”Mr. Richard, forward!”

”In one moment, Miss!” replied a voice far up the height. ”I'm just attending to a lady at the ribbon counter. I'll step down directly.”

Then a stentorian bawl: ”Sign, please!”

During this characteristic exchange of inanities an electric bell purred faintly in the distance, with the usual result that the dining-room door opened, to emit the jinnee-like presence of Mr. Milroy.

”What is it, Milroy?” enquired Lady Adela.

”Front door bell, my lady,” replied Milroy, and disappeared like a corpulent wraith through the curtains.