"A rather unusual place, was it not?" enquired Lady Adela coldly.
"Unusual," agreed Dicky readily, "but not irregular. Oh, no! Besides, Percy was there, three seats behind. Perfect dragon of a chaperon, old Perce! Yes, the proceedings were most correct, I promise you."
"I note," continued Lady Adela, taking up the letter again, "that you do not say where you made Miss Welwyn's acquaintance."
"That was on the top of another 'bus," explained Dicky, with a disarming smile.
"And was her brother," enquired Lady Adela, ominously calm, "present on this occasion?"
"Percy? Rather not! Otherwise I need not have interfered."
"Int--" began both Lady Adela and Mr. Mainwaring together.
"Yes," said Dicky glibly. "It was like this. The rain began to come down hard, and a rather poisonous-looking bounder sitting beside her offered her his umbrella."
"Any gentleman would have done the same, Dick," interposed Mr. Mainwaring quietly.
"Yes, Dad. But I don't think any gentleman would have insisted on paying a girl's fare for her; and I don't think any gentleman would have considered a half-share in a three-and-ninepenny brolly an excuse for putting his arm round a girl's waist," replied Dicky, with sudden passion.