"All right, my dear, and I will drive off with the baggage while you and father are paying your adieux to the Baronet. If he were to see you going off with all these boxes he might scent mischief."
"How clever you are, Kitty," Madeline said, with a laugh. "That idea is just lovely. But will you lock these boxes, my hands are shaking so I can hardly hold the keys."
"Why, we might be escaping from a robbers' castle. What is the use of getting so excited?"
"I can't help it, Kitty. I've been looking round for weeks and weeks for some way of getting out of a most uncomfortable position, and you cannot imagine how helpless I have felt. And now I feel—oh, I can't tell you what I feel—but here's the porter."
Madeline went down to the office and explained matters, and saw Kitty drive away with her luggage. Then she returned to the lounge, where Sir Charles, looking very bored, was listening to a long account of how Peter J. Harvey made his pile in copper.
On catching sight of Madeline, Peter J. brought his story to an abrupt conclusion and rose slowly to his feet.
"Need I disturb Lady Tregony and Beryl, do you think?" Madeline inquired, innocently, looking Sir Charles straight in the eyes.
"As you think best, Madeline," Sir Charles replied, blandly. "I sent up word to them that you had returned safe and sound."
"Then very likely they will be taking their afternoon nap now?"