"Oh no, really," replied Lady Errington, with polite mendacity, "do you think I am never happy away from Sammy?"
"Are you?" he asked, eyeing her keenly.
Alizon flushed a bright crimson, laughed in an uneasy manner and fidgeted nervously.
"What a shame to push me into a corner!" she said at length, raising her clear eyes to his face. "No!--I am never happy away from my child. I am so afraid of any accident happening! Dear me, what has become of Guy?"
They had entered the Dutch room by this time and found it empty, but on the table afternoon tea was laid out, so Alizon sat down to pour out Eustace a cup. Gartney looked at her furtively as she did this, and thought he had never seen her look so charming.
"Lucky Guy," he said at length, taking the cup she handed to him.
"Because of Sammy?" she asked, looking at him with a bright smile.
"No! because of you!" replied Eustace boldly, whereat she shook her blonde head gaily, though her lips wore a somewhat scornful look.
"I'm afraid Guy doesn't think so!"
Eustace judged this a good opening from which to lead up to his attempt at reconciliation, so spoke out at once.