"Ah, she might! But how is she to hear? I have not seen Adrian for a long time. I expect he has gone to Oxford long ago."
"I have not seen him, or Aunt Mary either, for some time," said Annie. "Perhaps she has heard that you have gone to that shop and is quite offended about it," suggested Annie.
"Let her be offended then," said Arthur.
"Well, I am not so fond of flying in people's faces as you are," retorted Annie.
"All right! Go and see Lady Mary to-morrow, and tell her we are all greatly concerned that she has not been to see us lately, and then perhaps she will tell you what she is going to do to those careless post office people for losing her letter with money in it."
There was another explosion of laughter over this, but Annie shook her head at the offered suggestion.
"I don't want to have to tell her what you have done, Arthur," she said; "I would rather she heard it from other people first, and had got over it a bit before I saw her."
"What nonsense, Annie; as if Lady Mary cares two straws what happened to me! We renounced all relationship to each other long ago, and as long as Adrian doesn't come here too often she won't trouble herself about where I go, or what I do; never fear."
"Well, I don't want to go to see her just now. And I do wish you had been more careful of her letter, if it is you who have lost it."
"You need not be so cross, Annie," said Molly. "I am sure Arthur would not have lost the letter if he could have helped it."