"Really you think of everything," she told him in a merry wonder. "I'll ask her, of course." "I think of a good many things," he said, venturing a bold glance in her eyes. "Don't think of too many at a time, Sidney," she warned him with a smile. "No, no, each in its proper place! One done, t'other come on, you know!" He stood looking down on her with a jovial confident smile--and she liked it. His bold glance of admiration did not displease or alarm her. She was quite ready to be told what the glance said; but she was not ready to say anything in reply yet. But it was evident that some day she would be asked for a reply. And it seemed evident too in what direction the current of her life was setting. With a smile for this and a sigh for that, and a wrinkle of the brow over this-and-that, she went back to the drawing-room and gave old Sarradet his gin-and-water. CHAPTER XVI A SHADOW ON THE HOUSE "So here you are--at Hilsey at last!" said Bernadette. "Yes, and, I say, what a jolly old place it is!" He paused for a moment. "I very nearly didn't come at all, though." She looked at him in amused surprise. "What was the counter-attraction?" "I had a job. Consequently it became wildly possible that I might get another." "Oh, is that all? I hoped it was something interesting and romantic." "It is interesting--though I suppose it's not romantic." In fact it had possessed for him some of the qualities implied by that hard-worked word. "But my clerk can wire me if anything turns up." He laughed at himself. "Nothing will, you know, but it flatters my pride to think it might." "It won't flatter my pride if you run away from us again." She rose. "Get your hat and I'll show you round a bit. The others are all out, doing something." "Who's here?" "Only the Norton Wards and Sir Christopher. Sir Oliver's been here, but he had to go up on some business. He's coming back in a few days. The others are here just for the week-end." "But I'm here for a month! Isn't that glorious?" "Well, you know, something may happen----" "Oh, no, I shan't be sent for. I'm sure I shan't. Anyhow I could come back, couldn't I?" "Yes, if you wanted to. The house would always be at your disposal, Cousin Arthur." Her smile was mocking, but she laid her hand on his arm with the old suggestion of a caress, adding, "Let's get out and enjoy it, while we can, anyhow."