"I don’t think we have met any of _them_," said Miss Welwyn doubtfully. "The Mossops live on one side of us and the Rosenbaums on the other. We don’t call on them, of course," she added apprehensively. "And oh, Lady Adela, I have an invitation for you from my mother, to come and have tea with us." "That is very kind of your mother," said Lady Adela graciously. "You shall give me the invitation when you have unpacked your boxes." "It’s--it’s not a written invitation," said Tilly. "Mother just asked me to ask you, any day you happen to be coming into town. Then you would meet my father and the others." "That will be charming," replied Lady Adela. "I think we have no engagement on Monday." (_Lady A. is simply bursting with curiosity about the girl’s family_, observed Connie at this point.) "I will write a little note to your mother, and you shall take it back with you on Monday morning. Are you the eldest of the family?" "No. Perce--Percy is the eldest. He is twenty-two." "Is he at the University?" Miss Welwyn shook her head. "Not now," she said. She spoke with more freedom. The restraint of her surroundings was wearing off, and her courage, which was considerable, was beginning to assert itself. "He is in the City. He dislikes it very much, poor boy. He is so fond of open-air sports, and he finds an office very trying. My father was a great sportsman, too. He used to go racing a good deal at one time, but he has given it up now. He says he is on the shelf." "And he was a Fellow of his College, I think you said?" remarked Lady Adela, a little bored with this prattle. "Yes--Fellow and Tutor." "But he is no longer in residence, you say?" "No," said Tilly briefly. _There is something shady about the poor child’s father_, wrote Mrs. Carmyle, _but Lady A. has got no change out of her so far_. "I am looking forward greatly to making your father’s acquaintance, Miss Welwyn," said Lady Adela, with absolute sincerity. "Now, I wonder if I know any of your mother’s people. I don’t think you have mentioned her maiden name." "She was a Banks," replied Miss Welwyn readily. _Bill, dear, this little girl is splendid!_ recorded Connie enthusiastically. "I beg your pardon?" said Lady Adela. "A Banks," repeated Tilly politely. Lady Adela nodded her head intelligently. "Ah, to be sure!" she said. "Let me see. Are they a Warwickshire family, now?" "Or is it a Cornish name?" queried Sylvia, with an encouraging smile. "No," said Tilly. "Mother came from Bedfordshire--or else Cambridgeshire," she added rather breathlessly, for the four eyes of the sphinxes were upon her once more. "But, dear Miss Welwyn--" began Sylvia. _I can stand this no longer!_ scribbled Connie, and threw down her pen. "Thank goodness, that’s over!" she exclaimed, rising and coming over to the fire. "What a nuisance affectionate husbands are! Talking of husbands, Sylvia, I hear you are going to marry a plumber."