Melicent turned quickly to him. "What does he say? He has one of the Lutwyche boys here?"
"The Lutwyche boys? Who are they?" cried Lance, in stupefaction.
"Why, Tante Wilma's children," said Millie disgustedly; "my half-brothers and sisters."
There was a silence. Lady Burmester turned a look of blank astonishment upon Mrs. Helston.
"Do I understand that Lance will have a family of half Boer brothers-in-law?" she said.
"But I thought you knew my father married a Boer woman after my mother died. I thought everyone knew it," said Millie. "Surely Mr. Mayne told you; he knows all about it. It was he who got me away from Tante Wilma after my father died."
Lance cleared his throat.
"Perhaps," he said, "before I again encounter Major Otis, it will be as well for you to give me further family information."
"It would have been better had it been given before," echoed his mother, very stiffly.
Melicent dared not look at Bert. She held up her little head proudly.