Katherine had risen with her almost overrespectful air, which never concealed the mischievous twinkle in her eyes when she raised them, but now they were fixed upon the sheets of paper.
"Your Grace is welcome to that armchair for a little, but I am very occupied. Lady Garribardine wishes these letters to go by this evening's post."
"I wish you would not call me 'Your Grace'," he said, a little impatiently. "I cannot realise that you can be the same person whom I met at Gerard Strobridge's."
"I am not," she looked up at him.
"Why?"
"It is obvious—I was me—myself, that night—a guest."
"And now?"
"Your Grace is not observant, I fear; I am Her Ladyship's secretary."
"Of course—but still?" he came over quite close to her.
"If I had been the same person as the one you met at Mr. Strobridge's, you would not now have been obliged to contrive to come to the schoolroom to speak to me."