"Mes très chers, je vous quitte. One little half-hour. There is an unhappy child whose supreme moment is drawing very near. I have told you of my Carla? They are trying to persuade her that she has sinned—ah, the horrible folly and cruelty of it all!"
Miss Stellenthorpe hastened away, and Nicholas Aubray, after a moment, exclaimed, as he not infrequently did:
"What a splendid person your aunt is! I can't tell you how much I admire her."
"She is very kind," said Lily, trying to atone by the fervour of her voice for a certain blankness that invaded her at this fresh example of Nicholas Aubray's enthusiasm.
"Isn't she—isn't she? She's been a godsend to the peasantry here, I feel sure. She has," said Nicholas significantly, "been very kind to me."
"I know she likes you very much."
Lily spoke hurriedly and almost at random, overwhelmed by sudden nervous shyness.
"She's—she's enjoyed your being here, and all our excursions."
"Did she tell you that we had a long talk the other day?"
"She didn't tell me so specially," said Lily, and added hastily: "You've known her a long time, haven't you?"