"At our age," said Aunt William, "only little flower toques, as you call them, should be left to younger people. Oh how much nicer you would look, Virginia, in a black or brown silk dress, and a close bonnet with strings, say with a chrysanthemum or two, and a few bugles if you like. It would be so much more suitable."
"What is a close bonnet?" asked Lady Virginia, trying to concentrate her thoughts and not in the least offended.
The arrival of Savile at this moment created a diversion. His air of inscrutability and self-restraint was neither more nor less marked than usual; but, to the acute observer, it would have been evident that he was crammed with suppressed and exciting information.
"You remember my nephew, Virginia? My brother James's only son, you know." Aunt William spoke proudly, as if his being an only son were some remarkable merit of his own.
"Not at all," murmured Savile indistinctly.
"Oh, is he really? What a darling! I adore children," said Lady Virginia, benevolently smiling at him. "And so tall for his age, too!"
"You don't know his age," snapped Aunt William.
"No, I don't; but I can see he's tall—a very fine child. What do you learn at school, darling?"
"Oh, nothing much," said Savile, with patience.
Lady Virginia laughed inconsequently.