With a flash of surprise—really she had not been thinking about herself, in spite of her little attempts to mystify Miss S.—Mina caught that lady indulging in a very intent scrutiny of her, which gave an obvious point to her last words and paved the way (as it appeared in a moment) for a direct approach to the principal object of Miss S.'s visit. That this object did not come to the front till Miss S. was on her feet to go was quite characteristic.
"I'm really glad, my dear," she observed, hanging her silk bag on her arm, "to have had this talk with you. They do say such things, and now I shall be able to contradict them on the best authority."
"What do they say?"
"Well, I never repeat things; still I think perhaps you've a right to know. They do say that you're more
interested in Harry Tristram than a mere neighbor would be, and—well, really, I don't quite know how to put it."
"Oh, I do!" cried Mina, delightedly hitting the mark. "That uncle and I are working together, I suppose?"
"I don't listen to such gossip, but it comes to my ears," Miss S. admitted.
"What diplomatists we are!" said the Imp. "I didn't know we were so clever. But why do I take Janie to Mingham?"
"They'd say that Bob Broadley's no real danger, and if it should disgust Harry Tristram——"
"I am clever! Dear Miss Swinkerton, I never thought of anything half so good myself. I'll tell uncle about it directly."