"Our wiseacre," she said.
"All right," said the chauffeur. "Don't you believe me. He as good as told me so the day before he left, but I suppose that doesn't count."
Gurgling with merriment, his sister rose from the table and, coming behind the speaker, set her hands on his shoulders.
"And I suppose that's why he 'wished to leave the neighbourhood,'" she said, laying her cheek against his. "Betty and I were too much for him. Which reminds me, Bet, you and I ought to go to Bell Hammer and take those books back."
Her brother screwed his head round and looked at her.
"You're not suggesting that Valerie——"
"Sent him away?" said Anne. "Heaven knows. But he's just crazy about her, isn't he, Bet?"
The parlourmaid nodded.
"And she?" queried Alison.
"Loves him to distraction," said Anne.