"Oh, am I? Well, that's a good one. May I smoke?"
Claudia laughed again at this politeness, and sat down on a convenient boulder. "You shouldn't smoke at your age."
"Who gave me cigarettes?" asked Neddy, shyly.
"I was very wrong to encourage you. I don't think," added Claudia, with a view to arriving at the point she aimed at, "that your aunt would give you tobacco."
Neddy sat down and lighted up with the impudent air of a robin. "I take it," he remarked, coolly, "she smokes herself, and I sneak what I want. Aunt Laura ain't bad. A dashing sort of woman, ain't she?"
"She'd box your ears if she heard you say that, Neddy."
"She wouldn't. Aunt Laura daren't lay a finger on me."
"Why not?" Claudia became aware that there was a threat hidden here.
"Because I know----" Neddy hesitated, and stole a cunning glance at his companion. "Well, I know what I know."
"Lady Wyke has been very kind to you, Neddy."