"He's been here! Mother said so--you were talking to him for a long time! Oh, Chris, what did he say--wasn't it wonderful of him to come? Don't you think he is handsome, Chris? Own up--isn't he a gorgeous man? Did he ask after me, was he very disappointed when he found I was out--?" "I'll take your questions in order," said Christina, solemnly ticking them off on her finger. "He has been here, if he is Ronnie; he said a lot of things. It was certainly wonderful for me that he came. He asked after you, but didn't seem to be cast down to find you were out. Was that the lot? I hope so." "But Christina!" she was quivering with excitement. "What do you think of him?" "I--think--he--is--sublime!" Evie glanced at her resentfully, suspecting sarcasm; saw that her sister was in earnest, and seeing this, was confounded. "He is very nice," she said less enthusiastic, "yes--a dear--did you really get on with him, Chris? How queer! And after all that you've said about him! Didn't your conscience prick you--?" Christina sent her red locks flying in a vigorous head-shake. "No, it wasn't conscience," she said. Evie, from being boisterously interested, became quietly distrait. "Of one thing I am certain," volunteered Christina, "and it is that he will never behave dishonorably or give you, or for the matter of that, mother and me, one hour's real pain." "No--I'm sure he won't," said Evie awkwardly, the more awkward, because she was trying so hard not to be. "Such a man couldn't be mean. I am certain of that," Christina went on. "Evie, I am not scared about you any more--and I was, you know. Just scared! Sometimes when you came back from seeing Ronnie, I dared not look at you for fear--I didn't exactly know what I feared. Now--well, I feel that you are in good hands, darling, and I shall not be thinking every time you go out: 'I wonder if she will come back again?'" Evie's face was burning. If she had spoken, she would have betrayed herself. She became interested in the contents of a hanging cupboard and hummed a careless tune, shakily. "Are you singing or is it the hinge?" asked Christina. "You're very rude--I was singing--humming." "There must be music in the family somewhere," said Christina, "probably it goes back to our lordly ancestor--" "I told Teddy about that, about Lord Fransham--" "Did you tell Ronnie?" Evie wondered if she should say. Christina was so excellently disposed toward him that it would be a pity to excite her resentment. "Yes--he laughed. He said everybody has a lord in his family if he only goes back far enough. Teddy thought it was wonderful and he said--you'll laugh?" "I swear I won't." "Well--he said that he knew that I had aristocratic blood by my instep, it is so arched. And it is you know, Chris, just look!" "Shurrup!" said Christina vulgarly.