"Yes. They don't seem to think it very serious though—Uncle Richard says——"
"Your Uncle Richard knows nothing about it—nothing. However, I don't think anyone need be alarmed."
There was in this last sentence a ring in the Duchess's voice that flung her words out for the nation to grasp at. "No need, my good people, for you to worry—I have this in hand."
"Well, I'm very glad," said Rachel. "It's such a long while since anything has happened that it seems quite odd for everyone to have something to talk about except dinner-parties and scandal——"
The old woman looked across at her and then very slowly a smile rose, stiffened between her old dried lips and stayed there—
"What would you say, my dear, if Roddy thought it his duty to go and defend his country?"
There was, suddenly, the sharp ring in her voice that Rachel knew so well.
"I know," Rachel said quietly, "that Roddy would do his duty, and of course I would want him to do that."
The Duchess, with her eyes still upon her granddaughter's face, said—"I've heard a good deal about a young friend of yours lately."
"Who is that, grandmamma?" Rachel said, and, in spite of herself her hand trembled a little against her dress.