"I mean," said Miss Damer, "that Lady Adela is thinking of calling out her First Reserve."
A natural but most impertinent query sprang to my lips, to be stifled just in time.
"You were going to say?" enquired Miss Damer.
"I was going to say what a pretty carriage drive this is," I replied rapidly. "You will be glad of a cup of tea, though?"
"Yes, indeed," replied my companion brightly; but her attitude said "Coward!" as plainly as could be.
Still, there are some questions which one can hardly ask a lady after an acquaintance of only ten minutes.
"There is the house," continued Miss Damer, as our conveyance weathered a great clump of rhododendrons. "Are n't you glad that this long and dusty journey is over?"
"Not now!" I replied.
My little preceptress turned and bestowed on me a beaming smile.
"That is much better!" she remarked approvingly.