"Mr Frazer is Dorothy's quaint way of speaking of the Earl of Strathmoira."
Miss Vernon stared at her mother, then at her friend; a look of puzzlement was on her pretty face.
"Dorothy, do you know Strathmoira?"
Dorothy's look of bewilderment more than matched her own.
"Strathmoira?--no; is it a place or a thing?"
"Dorothy, are you joking?"
"Joking?--Frances!--what makes you think I'm joking?--I haven't the faintest notion what you mean."
Miss Vernon turned to her mother.
"Mother, what is this mystery?--because it seems to me that there is a mystery somewhere. I hope that you and Dorothy understand each other better than I do either of you."
"My dear Frances, I'm bound to say that I don't understand; especially if, as she says, she isn't joking. Dorothy, do you seriously wish to tell us that you don't know that the gentleman who brought you to this house last night was the Earl of Strathmoira?"