No; Mrs. Romer was a clever, well-intentioned little woman. She had meant to give him a hint in all kindness, and he would not be slow to take it. What she had meant to say was, "Take her yourself quickly, or some one else will take her from you."
And Sir John said to himself that he would so take her, and that as quickly as possible.
Standing talking to her younger son, later on that evening, Lady Kynaston said to him, suddenly,
"Why does Vera wear peacock's feathers?"
"Why should she not?"
"They are bad luck."
Maurice laughed. "I never knew you to be superstitious before, mother."
"I am not so really; but from choice I would avoid anything that bears an unlucky interpretation. I saw her with you in the conservatory as I came downstairs."
Maurice turned suddenly red. "Did you?" he asked, a little anxiously.
"Yes. I did not know it was her, of course. I did not see her face, only her dress, and I noticed that it was trimmed with peacock's feathers; that was what made me recognize her afterwards."