‘No, a petroleuse is a woman.’
‘I like Mr. White,’ said Fly; ‘but, Gillian, you don’t think it is true that he is going to marry your Aunt Jane?’
There was a great groan, and Japs observed—
‘Some one told us Rockquay was a hotbed of gossip, and we seem to have got it strong.’
‘Where did this choice specimen come from, Fly!’ demanded Ivinghoe, in his manner most like his mother.
Fly nodded her head towards her governess in the advanced guard.
‘She had a cousin to tea with her, and they thought I didn’t know whom they meant, and they said that he was always up at Rockstone.’
‘Well, he is; and Aunt Jane always stands up for him,’ said Gillian; ‘but that was because he is so good to the workpeople, and Aunt Ada took him for some grand political friend of Cousin Rotherwood’s.’
‘Aunt Jane!’ said Jasper. ‘Why, she is the very essence and epitome of old maids.’
‘Yes,’ said Gillian. ‘If it came to that, she would quite as soon marry the postman.’