"De Wolfe!" repeated her listener, in amazement. "Are you quite sure?"
"Yes, I'm both sure, and certain,—how could anyone forget such an outlandish name as that?"
"I know Mrs. De Wolfe well," said Mayne, "she and I come from the same part of the world."
"I am glad to hear it, and you can take over Nancy. It is not fair or respectable, that she should be going about as Miss Travers, turning all the men's heads,—when you and I know, that she's a married woman!"
Mayne made no reply, but accepted an empty teacup in silence, and Mrs. Hicks continued: "Of course, you will leave the service, and take a fine country place; for there's not only the Fletcher money, but the gold mine. I see! you've not heard of that, I suppose! They are working a big reef on Fairplains,—you know the place near Chuttibutti?"
"I've heard nothing whatever about Fairplains, since I last saw you," said Mayne, after a considerable pause, during which an agreeable day-dream, had been completely dispelled.
"You've only yourself to thank for that!" said Mrs. Hicks, shaking the crumbs from her green plumage. "You went away to the north of India, and dropped the whole lot of us, like so many 'ot potatoes. Those old workings have turned out very valuable,—Hicks always believed in them.—They say, they are bringing Nancy in about eight thousand a year, and will be worth more, as time goes on! What do you think of that?"—and she poked him facetiously with her pocket-fan. "Why, I declare, to look at you, one would say you'd lost a fortune! Come, come! buck up!"
"Mother!" interrupted Jessie breathlessly, "I've been looking for you everywhere; we are going to try, and catch the next train. You know we are dining in town, and doing a play,—so do, do make haste! Captain Mayne, you'll come, and see us, won't you?"
"Why, of course he will," replied her mother; "he and I have no end to say to one another,"—then turning to him, "Our address—have you a pencil, and I'll write it out on a bit of the race-card,—Torkington House, Baron's Court, quite in the wilds; but you're used to that! It was in the wilds that we met, ha! ha!"
"Oh, do come, mother!" cried Jessie, and seizing her by the arm, she dragged her parent almost forcibly away, but Teddy hung back for a second,—and said, "I'll telephone to your club, and fix a meeting!"—then he ran.