“I presume you mean the painting man,” said Aunt Caroline. “Yes,” said Miss Perry. There was a pause in which Cheriton and his old friend looked at one another long and particularly. “Hand me my stick, girl,” said Aunt Caroline. Miss Perry did as she was desired. Her manner of doing it seemed to imply that she expected to receive physical correction. “Sit down, girl,” said Aunt Caroline. Miss Perry resumed her chair, doubtless with an emotion of thankfulness upon her narrow escape. “I could not have believed it to be possible,” said Aunt Caroline, speaking very slowly, “that a Wargrave could have been so imprudent, so ungrateful, so entirely lacking in self-respect.” This indictment was delivered in the most deliberate and crushing manner; but a good deal of the effect was marred because Cheriton laughed outright in the middle of it. Aunt Caroline, however, presented a haughty indifference to the behavior of the husband-elect, who, of course, was not himself a Wargrave, and whose behavior in this crisis showed that fact clearly. “Are you mad, girl?” said the old lady. “Answer me.” “Jim is awfully nice,” drawled Miss Perry. The ebony walking-stick and the head-dress performed a concerted piece together which filled Ponto with consternation. “The creature must be a natural.” Miss Perry grew bolder, however, as the clear conviction that she was pledged to Jim Lascelles took a firmer hold upon her. “We shall not marry just yet, don’t you know,” said Miss Perry, with the air of one who imparts valuable information. “But Jim is going to get rich so that he can buy back the Red House at Widdiford, and then we are going to live in it, and it will be too sweet.” Aunt Caroline having grown incoherent with legitimate anger it devolved upon Cheriton to say something. “Capital!” said he, in a most benevolent manner. This expression of opinion helped Caroline Crewkerne through her crisis. “You inconceivably foolish girl,” said she. “Have you no sense of decency?” “Muffin has p-r-r-romised to wear her mauve at the wedding,” drawled Miss Perry. Had not the husband-elect blown his nose very vigorously there is reason to fear that he would again have been guilty of conduct unlike that of a Wargrave. “Silence, girl!” said Aunt Caroline. “Don’t speak another word until you have permission. This comes of crossing the breed. Now listen to me. The sooner you remove the man Lascelles from that inconceivably foolish and demoralized head of yours the better it will be for you. Where is your self-respect? Where is your sense of decency?” “Muffin----” said Miss Perry, but she got no farther because an imperious finger stayed her.