"I looked out your coat of arms in 'Burke.'"
Her ladyship smiled grimly. Perhaps something might be made of this fair barbarian—in time, a great deal of time; but still this knowledge of the peerage sounded hopeful, and it was with a little less severity in her voice that she demanded:
"And what do you mean to do now?"
"Go back to Basingstoke this morning."
"Alone?"
"No, with Mr. Allingford."
"Do you expect to find your husband there?"
"I should think he would naturally return as soon as possible to where he lost me."
"I don't know," said her ladyship. "Was Mrs. Allingford pretty?"
"If you are going to adopt that tack, Lady Melton, the sooner we part the better," said her visitor angrily.