"Ah!" Mrs. Perage had noticed the look, and spoke significantly. "You are one of those lucky people who will always get the nice things."
"I haven't had much luck so far, Mrs. Perage."
"Ungrateful! What do you call this?"
"Paradise!" said Hench briefly.
"With you as Adam, Gwen as Eve, and myself as the Serpent."
"Aren't you talking dreadful nonsense?" observed the girl seriously.
"Not at all," retorted the old lady coolly. "It is common-sense to chatter amusingly. Enjoy yourself, child, and when trouble comes you will be able to remember at least one happy hour."
"Trouble has come, and severe trouble, too," replied Gwen softly, and with a gloomy air.
"Now, not another word!" Mrs. Perage spoke sharply. "We can talk of that afterwards in the drawing-room."
"Talk of what?" asked Hench innocently, for he was surprised by Gwen's gloom and Mrs. Perage's sharpness.