"Wait until she comes and then ask her, Shucks," recommended the duke. "She hasn't told us. I say, Doody, Nina hasn't told us where she got the child, has she?"
"I doubt she's told any one—or will," agreed the duchess.
"But isn't that odd?" persisted the baronet. "One would think—"
"Oh, one can think what one likes," Lady Bellingdown cut in, still pouring her tea. "But what one thinks isn't as good as what one hears very often."
"Nina's very much changed," observed Lord Bellingdown. "She is, really. Grown quite maternal, don't you know. Fancy! One would never have thought that of Nina."
"None of you ever understood Nina. I always said that. You remember I always said that, don't you, Donty?" defended the duke.
"Nina's had a very difficult life," the duchess contributed. And at that Charlotte Grey made bold to laugh.
"She's had her tragedies, yes," she said; "but she's always taken her fun where she found it. Is she expected to cheer any one up this time?"
"She'll cheer us all up," said his grace.
"But without some new man—won't she be quite lost?" Charlotte continued.