"Brackenbury," I said. "If any one thought it worth while to call me a homicidal maniac, I doubt if I should bother to deny it... But are you pleased?"

"Oh, yes," he said. "They seem quite happy; and that's all that matters."

And I preferred to leave it at that. It is not a great match. Ruth, of course, is delighted, because it supports her own conduct in marrying Brackenbury....

Even Phyllida had a good word for me—which was so gratifying!

"I hope you're all as pleased as we are," she said, with a funny, unsmiling expression. Almost antagonistic...

I noticed that she had Hilda's trick of looking you straight in the eyes—a sort of challenge ... quite fearless ... and ready to change in a moment to impudence.

"I am," I said. "Your uncle Arthur is away and has not been told yet. Will is away too."

"What's Will doing?," she asked.

"He was offered a post at Morecambe," I told her. "Hilda's father wanted some one of experience and position, who was used to handling men—"

She seemed to find something to smile at in that.