"She has ridden with Reginald a good deal," said the mother.
Margaret had seated herself beside the younger of the aunts—Miss Rosamond Adair—and was talking to her in a low voice.
"How lovely she is!" Miss Adair murmured to her sister-in-law. "She ought to marry well, Caroline."
"I hope so," said Lady Caroline, placidly. "But I always think that Margaret will be difficult to satisfy." It was not her rôle to confide in her husband's sisters, of all people in the world.
"We heard something about Sir Philip Ashley: was there anything in it?"
Lady Caroline smiled. "I should have thought him everything that was desirable," she said, "but Margaret did not seem to see it in that light. Poor dear Sir Philip was very much upset."
"Ah, well, she may do better!"
"Perhaps so. Of course we should never think of forcing the dear child's inclinations," said Lady Caroline.
And yet she was conscious that she had laid her hand on a weapon with which she meant to beat down Margaret's inclinations to the ground. But it was natural to her to talk prettily.
Wheels were heard at that moment coming up the drive. Lady Caroline, raising her eyes, saw that Margaret started as the sound fell upon her ear.