The same cat-like quality which characterised her movements was shown also in her voice, which was marked by a purring and caressing intonation.
"Do you know who my aunt is?" she asked.
And then, as Laline shook her head, the red-haired girl enunciated her aunt's name with much impressiveness.
"She is Mrs. Vandeleur—Mrs. Sibyl Vandeleur."
The name meant nothing to Laline, but she saw that the red-haired girl expected her to be struck by it, and she hastened to explain her unmoved attitude.
"I know nothing of London celebrities," she said; "I have not lived in London since I was a child."
"Oh, that accounts for your not having heard of her!" said the other, evidently disappointed. "My aunt is extremely well known; and I should have thought that, to any one who reads the papers——"
"But I don't read the papers!" put in Laline. "I have never had time."
The other girl drew back her head, and appeared to be studying her.
"How delightful!" she murmured, sympathetically. "I should like to be like that—it leaves so many things to be found out. You have lived all your life at Norwood, haven't you?"