"You ran away, Anne, whilst mamma and I held our conference?"
"I hope it has been satisfactory," she answered demurely, not looking up, and wondering whether he suspected how violently her heart was beating.
"Partly so. The end was all right. Shall I tell it you?"
"The end! Yes, if you will," she replied unsuspectingly.
"The decision come to is, that a certain young friend of ours is to be converted, with as little delay as circumstances may permit, into Lady Hartledon."
Of course there came no answer except a succession of blushes. Anne's work, which she had carried with her, took all her attention just then.
"Can you guess her name, Anne?"
"I don't know. Is it Maude Kirton?"
He winced. "If you have been told that abominable rubbish, Anne, it is not necessary to repeat it. It's not so pleasant a theme that you need make a joke of it."
"Is it rubbish?" asked Anne, lifting her eyes.