A slight change, a kind of shade of softening, passed over Mrs. de Tracy’s stern features, as the shadow of a summer cloud may pass over a rocky hill. She turned suddenly to Robinette. “Can you tell me on 312 your word of honour that you had nothing to do with Carnaby’s action; that you did not put it into his head to cut the plum tree down!”
“I?” exclaimed Robinette, scarlet with indignation. “I? Why––do you want to know what I think of the action? I think it was perfectly brutal, and the boy who did it next door to a criminal! There!”
Mrs. de Tracy seemed convinced by the energy of this disclaimer. “I have always considered yours a very candid character,” she observed with condescension. “I believe you when you say that you did not influence Carnaby in the matter, though I strongly suspected you before.”
“Well, upon my word!” ejaculated Robinette when they had got out of the room, too completely baffled to be more original. “What does she mean? Has any one ever understood the workings of Aunt de Tracy’s mind?”
“Don’t come to me for any more explanations! I’ve done my best for my client!” 313 cried Lavendar. “I give up my brief! I always told you Mrs. de Tracy’s character was entirely singular.”
“Let us hope so!” commented Robinette with energy. “I should be sorry for the world if it were plural!”
Carnaby was not in the house, and Lavendar proceeded to look for him out of doors. He knew the boy was often to be found in a high part of the grounds behind the garden, where he had some special resort of his own, and he went there first. The afternoon had clouded over, and a slight shower was falling, as Mark followed the wooded path leading up hill. A rock-garden bordered it, where ferns and flowers were growing, each one of which seemed to be contributing some special and delicate fragrance to the damp, warm air. The beech trees here had low and spreading branches which framed now and again exquisite glimpses of the river far below and the wooded hills beyond it.
Lavendar had not gone far when he found Carnaby, Carnaby intensely perturbed, walking up and down by himself.