When she came down again, it was to quiet the tempest of merriment, and send off the younger folks in succession to bed, till only the four elders and Hal remained on the scene, waiting till there was reason to think the household would be ready for prayers.
‘It was Dolores that you saw at Darminster, Reginald,’ said Miss Mohun, quietly.
‘You Sphynx woman, how do you know?’
‘You said it was raining at Darminster.’
‘Yes, that it was, everywhere beyond the tunnel through the Darfield hills.’
‘Exactly, I know they make a line in the rainfall. Well, here it was dry, but Dolores called it a wet day.’
‘Now I call that too bad, Jane, to lay a trap for the poor child in the game,’ cried Colonel Mohun, just as if they had still been boy and girl together.
‘It was to satisfy my own mind,’ she said, colouring a little. ‘I didn’t want any one to act on it. Indeed, I think there will be no occasion.’
‘Besides,’ he added, ‘it is nothing to go upon! No doubt, if it wasn’t raining, it was the next thing to it here, and bow was she to recollect at this distance of time? I won’t have her caught out in that way!’
‘I am glad she has a champion, Regie,’ said Lady Merrifield. ‘Here come the servants.’