"I can't tell you that, for I'm not supposed to know." "Let me tell you, then, that it looks bad--very bad. To begin with, your cousin Nettie strongly disapproves of the young woman's appearance, so loud and over-dressed, evidently got up to attract. But it lies in a nutshell. If he's not engaged to her, why is he seen everywhere with her? If he is engaged to her, and she's a respectable woman--I say _if_ she's respectable, why doesn't he introduce her to his family? Why doesn't he ask your aunt Kate to call on her?" "Well, you see, supposing they are engaged, they wouldn't go and proclaim it all at once; and in any case, that would depend more on Miss Craven than Ted. I can't tell you any more than I have done; and I'd be greatly obliged if you wouldn't allow Ted's affairs to be gossiped about by cousin Nettie or anybody else." She was relieved for the moment by the entrance of Mrs. Rogers with the tea-tray. "Tea, uncle?" "No, thank you, none of your cat-lap. I must see Ted himself. Where is he?" "I'm not sure, but I _think_ he's gone out." Mrs. Rogers looked up from her tray, pleased to give valuable information. "Mr. 'Aviland is in 'is bedroom, m'm; I 'eard 'im as I come up." "Oh, I'll go and tell him then." She found Ted dressing himself carefully before calling on Audrey. She wasted five minutes in trying to persuade him to see his uncle. Ted was firm. "Give him my very kindest regards, and tell him a pressing engagement alone prevents my waiting on him." With that he ran merrily downstairs. His feet carried him very swiftly towards Audrey. Katherine gave the message, with some modifications; and Mr. Pigott, seeing that no good was to be gained by staying, took his leave. Ted came back sooner than his sister had expected. He smiled faintly at the absurd appearance of the Venus in her mackintosh, but he was evidently depressed. He looked mournfully at the tea-table. "I'm afraid the tea's poison, Ted, and it's cold." "It doesn't matter, I don't want any." "Had tea at Audrey's?" "No." He strode impatiently to the table and took up one of the illustrations Katherine had been working at. "What's up?" said she. "Oh--er--for one thing, I've heard from the editor of the 'Sunday Illustrated.' He's in a beastly bad temper, and says my last batch of illustrations isn't funny enough. The old duffer's bringing out a religious serial, and he must have humour to make it go down." Katherine was relieved. To divert him, she told him the family's opinion as to his relations with Audrey. That raised his spirits so far that he called his uncle a "fantastic old gander," and his cousin Nettie an "evil-minded little beast." "After all, Ted," said Katherine, judicially, "why does Audrey go on making a mystery of your engagement?" "I don't know and I don't care," said Ted, savagely. Surely it was not in the power of that harmless person, the editor of the "Sunday Illustrated," to move him so? Something must have happened.