‘Oh, no! no one shall know it except Lion, and he’s heard what you’ve said, of course.’
‘Oh, I don’t mind Lion; he’s in all our little secrets,’ said Miss Adrian smiling; ‘but I hope Polly will be discreet.’
Gertie laughed at the idea of Polly revealing a secret; and Polly, who had heard its name mentioned, whistled and blessed their eyes for a good five minutes.
Miss Adrian, to satisfy her conscience, gave Gertie a short lesson; but she could not deceive herself. She knew that her visit was more on Marston’s account than on Gertie’s.
When she rose to go, Gertie hoped she would come again soon, and she promised that she would.
‘Perhaps I shall have something to tell you about him, you know,’ said Gertie, archly.
Miss Adrian flushed scarlet. Was it possible she had betrayed herself even to this child?
She stooped down and patted Lion’s head, and then kissed Gertie affectionately.
‘Good-bye, Gertie,’ she said; ‘and remember to let me know if anything happens.’
She got halfway down the stairs, and then the thought struck her, how would Gertie communicate with her. The child did not know where she lived.