Margaret shrugged her shoulders. "I believe she will."
The older lady's face showed a sudden cloud of indignation.
"William must really put his foot down," she said, in a low, decided voice. "It is, of course, most important—just now—"
She said no more, but Margaret French looked up, and they exchanged glances.
"Let's hope," said Margaret, "that Mr. Ashe will be able to pacify her. Ah, there she is."
For the front door closed heavily, and instantly the house was aware from top to toe of a flutter of talk and a frou-frou of skirts. Kitty ran up the stairs and into the drawing-room, still talking, apparently, to the footman behind her, and stopped short at the sight of Lady Tranmore and Margaret. A momentary shadow passed across her face; then she came forward all smiles.
"Why, they never told me down-stairs!" she said, taking a hand of each caressingly, and slipping into a seat between them. "Have I lost much of you?"
"Well, I must soon be off," said Lady Tranmore. "Harry has been entertaining me."
"Oh, Harry; is he there?" said Kitty, in another voice, perceiving the child behind his grandmother's dress as he sat on the floor, where Lady Tranmore had just deposited him.
The baby turned towards his beautiful mother, and, as he saw her, a little wandering smile began to spread from his uncertain lips to his deep-brown eyes, till his whole face shone, held to hers as to a magnet, in a still enchantment.