“Poor children!” said I. “Manage a bit of fun for them sometimes.”

Miss Phyllis assumed a staid and virtuous air.

“They must be properly brought up, Mr. Carter,” said she.

“Is there a House Opposite?” I asked; and Miss Phyllis blushed.

Mrs. Hilary advanced, holding out a letter.

“You may as well post this for me,” said she. “Oh, and would you like to come to lunch tomorrow?”

“To meet the Paragon?”

“No. She’ll be there, of course; but you see it’s Saturday, and Hilary will be here; and I thought you might take him off somewhere and leave Phyllis and me to have a quiet talk with her.”

“That won’t amuse her much,” I ventured to remark.

“She’s not coming to be amused,” said Mrs. Hilary severely.