"See Lady Caroline to-morrow! I thought you were not going back till Saturday?"
"I've just thought of some special business about which I must see Lady Caroline at once, and I'll mention this at the same time. Now, let us find George. Come for a turn."
They found George and went for their turn, and when their turn was over, and Gertrude was alone with her husband, she told him the conversation which she had had with Walter Joyce. The schoolmaster laughed heartily.
"'Pon my word, Gerty," he said, "match-making appears to be your forte, born and bred in you! I never believed in the reality of those old dowagers in Mrs. Trollope's novels, until I saw you."
"Well, I declare, George, you are complimentary! old dowagers, indeed! But, seriously, I wish Walter wasn't going to Lady Caroline!"
"Why, what on earth has that to do with it?"
"Well, I mean speaking in Maude's interest!"
"Why, one would think that Lady Caroline was in love with Walter Joyce herself!"
"Exactly!"
"Why--why--you don't think so, my dear?"