Mrs. Compton was surprised to hear her father admit so much. She hesitated a moment, then said,—
"I met a gentleman the other day who knew Richard and his wife in India. He says she is a charming woman, and considers Richard a fortunate man. I daresay she has improved since her marriage, but she was always good-looking, was she not?"
"I never spoke to her but once in my life," Sir Richard returned thoughtfully, "and then she appeared merely a shy, pretty school-girl. I was not aware at that time that she would be my daughter-in-law!"
"It was such a pity Richard did not look higher for a wife," Mrs. Compton sighed, for she had been ambitious for her brother; "but, after all, her relations are respectable people. I am sure Dr. Warren is a clever man in his profession, and his sister looks very nice!"
She paused a trifle nervously, for she had never dared to speak a word in favour of her sister-in-law's relations before; but Sir Richard did not turn upon her in anger as she half feared he would; on the contrary, he nodded his head approvingly, and, much to her surprise, suggested that she should call on Miss Warren.
"I think it would be only polite, seeing Dick is living with her and her brother," he said. "As things stand we ought to show them some attention."
"Very well!" Mrs. Compton answered quietly, though she was much amazed at the turn matters were taking.
Meanwhile, Lionel had changed his soiled collar for a clean one, and had repaired to the yard at the back of the house, where he found his sister and cousin watching the grooming of the pair of horses Sir Richard drove in his carriage. Later, they climbed the steep ladder which led to the hay loft, and sat down, each on a bundle of sweet-smelling hay, to talk at their ease.
"It was awfully good of you to take all the blame of our shindy on yourself," Lionel said to Dick, with real gratitude in his tone. "I consider grandfather let us off easily; he seemed in a better temper than he was at breakfast-time!"
"I wish you hadn't told him a lie!" Dick exclaimed, looking quite distressed. "No wonder he was angry!"