“Yes, I know,” said Trevor, laughing; “but what does H’m mean?”
“Shall I make mischief, or shan’t I? Well, I don’t know that it would be making mischief, for it seems quite natural.”
“My dear Frank, don’t play the Sphinx, please, for I’m one of the most dense men under the sun. Now, then, speak out.”
“Only thinking, and putting that and that together,” said Pratt, relighting his cigar. “Well?”
“Well—handsome young bailiff seen in the copse yonder; pretty girl is seen going rather hurriedly along path leading to copse; and elderly lady who holds post of housekeeper, and who, by the way, seems to know it, is seen to peer through window, and then to come to door, as if in search of pretty girl. I say only, what does it mean?”
“Means a bit of sweethearting, apparently,” said Trevor, laughing. “Well, I suppose it’s all right!”
“Not if the old lady catches them, perhaps; so let’s go and talk to the old lady.”
Trevor shrugged his shoulders, and the couple walked back towards the house, where Mrs Lloyd was standing, evidently fidgeted about something or another.
“I tell you she must have gone out,” she was saying as they came up.
But just at that moment the sound of carriage wheels was heard, and the waggonette drew up at the door with Vanleigh and Landells.