And she knelt down quite suddenly by the window.
The breakfast hour at the Manor House was, ordinarily speaking, most punctually at nine o’clock, but owing, doubtless, to some slight hitch in the lower regions, the gong that morning did not sound till a quarter past the hour. This delay gave Miss Tibbutt time to put in an appearance not more than two minutes late, and saved any necessary explanation regarding her early walk to Byestry. As it was really on Pia’s account that she had gone to Mass, she wished to avoid mentioning that she had been. Of course Pia could not possibly have guessed the real motive, but Miss Tibbutt had a feeling, which reason told her to be quite foolish, that in some odd way she might guess. And she did not want her to guess.
“What is the plan of campaign to-day?” asked the Duchessa, as they assembled in the morning room after breakfast.
Trix examined an ornament on the mantelpiece with rather studied care.
“I was thinking of walking over to Byestry, this morning,” she remarked.
“All right,” agreed the Duchessa, “and after lunch we will have the car. It is cold, but too good a day to be wasted.”
Trix had a moment’s anxiety.
“We shan’t be late for tea?” she queried.
“I don’t think so,” responded Pia. “The days are too short now. But why?”