"Oh yes, she has told us all about it," I replied with assurance.
Mr Craigie laughed heartily at what was evidently a highly humorous recollection.
"I was as near being annoyed at the time as I ever was in my life," said he. "But, man, I've had some proper laughs over it since."
He suddenly grew a trifle graver.
"Mrs Craigie isn't laughing, though. Between ourselves, it's she that's sent me on this errand to-day."
He winked and nodded and relit his pipe, while I endeavoured to see a little light through the extraordinary confusion of ideas which his remarks had caused in my mind.
"Miss Holland came up to the islands as your governess, I understand," I said in as matter-of-fact tone as I could compass.
"We got her through a Mrs Armitage in Kensington," said Mr Craigie. "It seemed all right—and mind you, I'm not saying it isn't all right now! Only between you and me, Mr——?"
"Wilson," I said promptly, breathing my thanks to Tiel at the same time.
"You'll be a relation of the minister's too, perhaps?"