Something like a tornado had suddenly swept into the room. It was Jeremy in a state of high excitement. He had a letter in his hand, and rushed up to Kate Raymore, holding it out. At first he did not notice Christine. "I've had a letter from Sibylla----" he began excitedly. "Any particular news?" asked Christine quickly. "Oh, I beg your pardon, Mrs. Fanshaw! I--I didn't see you." His manner changed. Christine's presence evidently caused him embarrassment. "No; no particular news. It's--it's not about her, I mean." "I'll go if you like, but I should dearly like to hear." She looked imploringly at Jeremy; she was thinking that after all he was a very nice boy. "Give me the letter, Jeremy. Show me the place," said Kate Raymore. Jeremy did as she bade him, and stood waiting with eager eyes. Christine made no preparations for going; she thought that with a little tact she might contrive to stay and hear the news. She was not mistaken. "Dora Hutting engaged!" said Kate, with a long breath. Jeremy nodded portentously. "Good gracious me!" murmured Kate. "To a curate--a chap who's a curate," said Jeremy. His tone was full of meaning. "Wasn't she always High Church?" asked Christine sympathetically. "Why, you never knew her, Mrs. Fanshaw?" "No, but most curates are High Church now, aren't they?" "It's very curious, isn't it, Jeremy?" asked Mrs. Raymore. "Met him at her aunt's, I see Sibylla says." Jeremy stood before the fire with knitted brows. "Yes, at her aunt's," he repeated thoughtfully. "Why is it curious, Kate?" "Oh, you know nothing about it, Christine." "I'm trying to learn--if Mr. Chiddingfold would only tell me." "It's nothing. It's--it's just a girl I used to know, Mrs. Fanshaw." "Ah, those girls one used to know, Mr. Chiddingfold!" Jeremy laughed--he laughed rather knowingly. "And she's consoled herself?" pursued Christine. "Oh, come now, I say, Mrs. Fanshaw!" "It's no use trying to be serious with her, Jeremy. We'll read all about it when she's gone." "Yes, all right. But to think----! Well, I'm dining here, aren't I?" "Oh, yes," said Christine reassuringly. "Christine, you're very impertinent. Yes, of course, Jeremy, and we'll discuss it then. Why don't you find Eva? She's in the library, I think." "Oh, is she? Then I--I might as well, mightn't I?" He spoke listlessly, almost reluctantly. And he did not leave the room by a straight path, but drifted out of it with an accidental air, fingering a book or two and a nick-nack or two on his devious way. Christine's eyes followed his erratic course with keen amusement. "You wicked woman!" she said to Kate as the door closed. "You might have given him one afternoon to dedicate to the memory of Miss Dora--what was her name?" "She was the rector's daughter down at Milldean. Well, I'm really glad. I fancy she was a flighty girl, Christine." "Oh dear me, I hope not," said Christine gravely. "What an escape for the poor dear boy!"