"Very. But I didn't know there was a boy. I thought it was only the school friend and the mother."
"Oh no! There's the brother—Pierce. Nance's letters are full of him."
Lady Frances gave a little half-sarcastic laugh.
"Then Nance is presumably still learning—though she has left school?"
Something in the utterance of the words made Clodagh flush.
"Don't!" she said involuntarily—"don't! Nance is—is different from me."
Then, as her hostess remained silent, she turned and looked at her.
"Don't be offended!" she added. "It is only that I can't have anything cynical said of Nance. I know you don't understand. It seems that because I sent her to America, I don't really care——" She halted again.
"But I don't make you understand!—I don't seem to make any one understand." Her voice dropped slightly; and Lady Frances, as though fearing some emotional outburst, broke in hastily.
"My dear child!—my dear Clodagh!" Then she paused, for the door opened and her maid Rees reappeared.