'You delayed Her Majesty's mail while you gossiped with him!'
Catherine laughed.
'I forgot that; he didn't seem in any hurry, and I'm sure he enjoyed telling me about Uncle Jack.'
Mrs. Arderne reverted to the original subject.
'I am not at all certain that I shall let you out to-night, Miss Carmichael.'
'You—you don't mean that, do you?'
'Why should you annoy your Uncle Ross, who seems to have been very nice to you? I am certain he will be vexed by your going at once to seek out the brother with whom he has quarrelled.'
'But the right of the quarrel is all on Uncle Jack's side,' said the girl simply. 'You will understand that when you have met him.'
'He persuaded Loring Carmichael to rebel against his elder uncle's authority.'
'He only talked to him enthusiastically of the army; Uncle Jack, dear old fellow, never could talk even to me for a quarter of an hour without mentioning Sebastopol! He is such a thorough, devoted soldier, and he always abhorred mere money-earning life-occupations!'