"To-night there will be a little informal dance—the young folks were so eager for it, you know. And, Clive, that young friend of yours, Lieutenant De Vere—I hope you brought him down with you?"
"I did not," he replied.
"I am sorry; but I shall send him a note to-morrow. Did you have a fair trip over, Clive?"
"Very fair," he replied, in a peculiar tone.
"I am glad to hear that. Oh, by the way, Clive, did you bring that child to the housekeeper?"
"Yes," he replied, and a slight smile twitched the corners of the mustached lips.
"I hope she wasn't troublesome," said the haughty old lady, carelessly.
"She was troublesome—I suppose all of the female sex are," he answered, lightly.
"Well, it couldn't be helped, or I would not have bothered you. I had to send for the young one, or West would have gone off herself to fetch her. I'm glad you brought her. The trouble is all over now, so I suppose you don't care."