"No! she's in the country. Now I am under the care of Mrs. Dills. Do you know her?"
"Only as the wife of Mr. Dills."
"She's a most amiable woman, but not pretty."
"Curious thing, amiable women never are."
"How cruel--to me."
"Pardon! you are the exception----"
"To prove your extremely severe rule! Thank you!"
Talking in this light and airy manner, which was really assumed to hide their real feelings, Miss Sheldon and her lover arrived at the drawing-room, found Mrs. Dills, small, spiteful and vivacious, to whom Victoria introduced the Master, and then went off to say goodbye to Mrs. Veilsturm.
When she returned, and Otterburn was escorting her downstairs in the train of Mrs. Dills he noticed a puzzled look on her face, and promptly asked the reason of it. She did not answer at first, but as they stood on the step, waiting for the carriage, suddenly asked him a question.
"Who introduced Sir Guy Errington to Mrs. Veilsturm?"