"You don't mean that valet who brought you home from the party?" she demanded suddenly.
"Oh, I didn't mean anybody particularly," answered Nell, guiltily. "But of course even he would be better than nobody."
"Nell Norcross, don't let that young man get into your head. There's something mysterious about him. He may be only a valet, but I'm not certain. I'm suspicious of him. He has a habit of forgetting himself."
"I know," assented Nell, nodding.
"Oh, you do, do you? I might have guessed it. Take my advice and give him a wide berth."
Nell regarded her friend with a look of speculative anxiety.
"Of course, Mary, I don't want to interfere with you in any way. But——"
"Interfere with me?" exclaimed Mary sharply. "Do you think I am interested in valets?"
"But you thought he might be something else. At least, you hinted it. He's a divinity student, isn't he?"
"Divinity!" Mary summoned all her scorn in that word. "Oh, very likely. But what sort of a divinity is he studying? Perhaps you're a candidate for the place."