"Yes, that's all right," assented Sir Roger, with the slightest possible chuckle. "We shall have a jolly lunch, eh, General?" CHAPTER XII ANOTHER! "I shall never, never forgot your generosity, John." "No, Mary. It was your honesty and courage that did it." "I told Mr. Ellerton the whole story, and he seemed positively astonished." "And Miss Bellairs admitted that when she wrote she considered such a tiling utterly impossible. She's changed a little, Mary. She's not so cheerful and light-hearted as she used to be." "Think what she's gone through. I've noticed just the same in Mr. Ellerton, but--" "You hope to restore him soon?" "Oh, well, I expect Miss Bellairs--what a pretty girl she is, John--will soon revive too, now she is with you again. John, have; you observed anything peculiar in Aunt Sarah's manner?" "To tell you the truth, I fancied she was rather short with me once or twice at dinner." "I believe she is--isn't pleased at--at what's happened. She hasn't taken much to Mr. Ellerton, and you know she liked you so much, that I think she still wants you as one of the family." John laughed: then he leant forward and said in a low voice: "Have you settled anything about dates?" "No. Mr. Ellerton--well he didn't introduce the subject: so of course I didn't. Have you?" "No, we haven't. I made some suggestion of the kind, but Miss Bellairs didn't fall in with it. She won't even let me ask her father's consent just yet." "Mr. Ellerton proposes not to announce our--anything--for a few days." "Well," said John, "I shall insist on an announcement very shortly, and you ought to do the same, Mary. We know the evils--" He checked himself, but Mary was not embarrassed. "Of secret engagements?" she said calmly. "We do indeed." "Besides it's a bore. I couldn't go with Miss Bellairs to the theatre to-night, because she said it would look too marked." "Yes, and Mr. Ellerton said that if he dined here he might as well announce our engagement from the statue of Strasburg." John frowned, and Mary perceiving the bent of his thoughts ventured to say, though with a timid air unusual to her: "I think they're the least little bit inconsiderate, don't you, John--after all we have done for them?" "Well, I don't mind admitting that I do feel that. I do not consider that Miss Bellairs quite appreciates the effort I have made." Mary sighed. "We mustn't expect too much of them, must we?" she asked. "I suppose not," John conceded; but he still frowned.