“Then you—some of us must leave. The situation is too strained.”
“You advise flight; and I, who am just spoiling for a fight, as the Irish say——” she was actually laughing again, it was too bad.
“If you will stay, let me make you acquainted with my sister Helen, Grandison’s mother,” said Jacynth softly, pity stirring his heart-strings for this young creature. “She is a good sort—a genuine woman.”
“Thank you,” said Fenella absently, looking round. “What is the count about; and where is Ronny?”
CHAPTER VI.
BY F. C. PHILLIPS.
The next morning Jacynth called upon his sister and explained to her that he wished her to extend a helping hand to Lady Francis Onslow. He had told Fenella that his sister Helen was “a good sort—a genuine woman,” and he was, therefore, disagreeably surprised when he found the view that lady took of the situation.
“Lady Francis Onslow?” she said, raising her eyebrows. “She is separated from her husband, is she not?”
“Yes, but it is not her fault,” answered Jacynth quickly. “Onslow treated her very badly.”
“I remember something about it,” said his sister. “I think there was a kind of shuffling of the cards and a new deal. Lord Francis took up with a Frenchwoman and his wife consoled herself with M. de Mürger. Is not that the story?”
“It is a garbled account of it. Lady Francis was perfectly innocent,” said Jacynth hotly.