“Not remaining long in this part of the world?”
“No—not that. I was only going to say I am not supposed to be out,” she said with evident reluctance.
“And yet she is visiting in some house in the neighbourhood evidently without any of her own family,” thought Philip, more and more intrigué, and in his own mind he was considering what observation leading to further revelations he might hazard when he was startled by a sudden move on his partner’s side.
“I must go now; please don’t think me rude,” she exclaimed hurriedly, and before he had time fully to take in the sense of her words she had gone.
“I will find out where and with whom she is staying,” he said to himself, starting forward to follow her, when a hand was laid on his arm, and turning, he saw his cousin Ermine.
“Where have you been hiding yourself all this time?” she said smiling. “Are you not going to ask me to dance to-night?”
“Of course, of course, if you care to,” Philip replied. But his manner was confused and hurried. It was evident he did not want to be detained. “I’ll be back in two minutes, Ermine,” he said, “but excuse me for an instant. Some friends of mine are just leaving, and I want—I just have a word to say to them before they go.”
“But I must speak to you for a moment,” said Ermine persistently. “Did you not know your grandmother has been here?”
“My grandmother!” ejaculated Sir Philip, so astonished as to forget for an instant his determination to discover some particulars about the mysterious Miss Wyndham, and if possible obtain a glimpse of the chaperone she had alluded to.
“Yes, of course. Aunt Anna—Lady Cheynes. Why do you look so incredulous?” Ermine went on.