"Yes. Why?"
"Oh—ah—nothing, nothing. Something just happened to come to my mind."
What happened to come into Lord Marshmoreton's mind was a fleeting vision of Billie installed in Miss Alice Faraday's place as his secretary. With such a helper it would be a pleasure to work on that infernal Family History which was now such a bitter toil. But the day-dream passed. He knew perfectly well that he had not the courage to dismiss Alice. In the hands of that calm-eyed girl he was as putty. She exercised over him the hypnotic spell a lion-tamer exercises over his little playmates.
"We have been pals for years," said George. "Billie is one of the best fellows in the world."
"A charming girl."
"She would give her last nickel to anyone that asked for it."
"Delightful!"
"And as straight as a string. No one ever said a word against
Billie."
"No?"
"She may go out to lunch and supper and all that kind of thing, but there's nothing to that."