"Believe it or not, just as you like, but it is a fact that that girl is absolutely happy with the children," she declared. "You ought to be pleased, Agnes. You pretended you were sorry for her. Can't you imagine the sort of existence that she has had in Mrs. Baynhurst's house. Well, here at least she will be treated like a human being." Then abruptly Camilla crossed the room, and sat down at her writing-table. "I am going to write to Mr. Haverford," she said, "and then I hope you will be satisfied, you dear old fidgety frump." The note written, she had it despatched by a cab, and requested that an answer might be sent back. "I don't see what earthly objection he can have," Camilla said, "but if he has any--well, now let him speak, or for ever hold his peace." The cab came back in a very little while, bringing the information that Mr. Haverford had been called to the north unexpectedly. Further, it appeared that the butler had added that Mr. Haverford intended going to Paris when he came down from the north. Mrs. Brenton smiled as she sipped her tea. "That means he intends to see his mother, and go thoroughly into this Graniger business. There are no half measures with him." Camilla moved petulantly. "Oh! we all know by this time that you think him a paragon of perfection.... He is just your pet idea of what a man should be--solid, stodgy, prosaic. A creature as flat, and as level, and as enduring, and as uninteresting as a Roman road." "Well," said Mrs. Brenton, picking up her knitting again, "there is a good deal to be said in favour of a smooth road, whether it is Roman or otherwise." Camilla ate a cake, then some sandwiches, and then another piece of cake. "The only thing worth having in life, except food when one is hungry, is the thing that comes unexpectedly. You can keep all your smooth roads to yourself, Agnes; give me Piccadilly when the wood pavement is simply honeycombed with holes, and one stands the chance of being jerked out of a cab, and perhaps out of existence, too, every other moment. Anyhow," she determined, brightly, "this settles matters so far as I am concerned. Miss Graniger will now stay, and if Mr. Haverford does not like this arrangement--well, he can lump it! Have some more tea? No? Well, then, let us go up to the children." CHAPTER VII For a second time Caroline Graniger lay awake late into the night, watching the fire-glow glint the walls and throw fantastic shadows on the ceiling. She had been sent to bed very early. "You look so tired, you poor thing," Camilla had said as they had sat at dinner. She herself was going out to a bridge party, but she had insisted on Agnes Brenton and Caroline sharing a dainty little dinner with her. Of course it was at her suggestion that Miss Graniger was sleeping with the children.