"You see," added Phyllis, who lounged idly in an arm-chair by the window, pale but sprightly, "the course of true love runs so monotonously smooth in this household. And Mrs. Maryon has a taste for the dramatic."
Conny laughed; and at this point the door was thrown open to admit Aunt Caroline, whose fixed and rigid smile was intended to show that she was in a gracious mood, and was accepted by the girls as a signal of truce.
"What is this a little bird tells me, Lucy?" she cried archly, for Mrs. Pratt shared the liking of her sex for matters matrimonial.
Fanny, who was, in fact, none other than the little bird who had broken the news, put her head on one side in unconsciously avine fashion, and smiled benevolently at her sister.
"I am engaged to Mr. Jermyn," said Lucy, her clear voice lingering proudly over the words.
Conny winced suddenly; then turned to gaze through the window at the blank casements above the auctioneer's shop.
"Then you have found out who Mr. Jermyn is?" went on Aunt Caroline, still in her most conciliatory tones.
"We never wanted to know," said Lucy, unexpectedly showing fight.
Aunt Caroline flushed, but she had come resolved against hostile encounter, in which, hitherto, she had found herself overpowered by force of numbers; so she contented herself with saying—