Lady Mary said it was bed-time and the servants wanted to lock up. The Squire and Mr. Pottinger melted away imperceptibly to smoke in peace elsewhere. Lady Pen, still holding Miles in an iron grip, pulled him over to the door, which she shut, led him back, and stood in front of Lady Mary, who was just going to ring for the servants to shut the windows. "Wait a minute, Aunt Mary. I've got somethin' to say, and I want to say it before Miles." "Oh, don't let us go into all that to-night," Lady Mary implored, "if what you have to say has anything to do with what you told me before dinner." "It has and it hasn't. One thing I've decided is that I've got to tell the Trents they are liars; and the other thing is that, though I disapprove with all my strength of the game Miles is playing, I believe that little girl is square...." "You see," Lady Pen went on, turning to Miles, "I've repeated things to Aunt Mary that I heard from the Trents lately--but I heard a different story at the time--and though I think you, Miles, are throwing yourself away, I won't be a party to spreadin' lies. Somethin' that _poudrée_ woman with the good skin said to-night made me feel a swab----" "I'm glad you've spoken up like this, Pen," Miles said slowly, "for if you hadn't, we couldn't have been friends any more. I promised Meg I wouldn't tell anybody--but I've asked her to marry me ... and though she isn't over keen, I believe I'll get her to do it some day." "Isn't over keen?" Lady Mary repeated indignantly. "Why, she ought to be down on her knees with joy!" Miles laughed. "She's not a kneeling sort, Aunt Mary. It's I who'll have to do the kneeling, I can tell you." Lady Pen was looking straight at her cousin with the beautiful candid eyes that were so like his own. "Just for curiosity," she said slowly, "I'd dearly like to know if Meg Morton ever said anything to you about me--anything rather confidential--I won't be offended, I'd just like to know." "About you?" Miles echoed in a puzzled voice. "About my appearance, you know--my looks." "I think she called you good-looking, like everybody else, but I don't remember that she was specially enthusiastic. To tell you the honest truth, Pen, we've had other things to talk about than you." "Now listen, you two," said Lady Pen. "That little girl is straight. You won't understand, Miles, but Aunt Mary will. Meg Morton knew I was against her--about you, Miles--women always know these things. And yet she held her tongue when she could have said something true that I'd rather not have talked about. You'll hold your tongue, old chap, and so will Aunt Mary. I've got her hair; got it on this minute. That's why she's such a croppy." Lady Mary sat down on the nearest chair and sighed deeply. "It's been a real satisfaction to me, this transformation, because I know where it came from." Miles took his cousin's hand and kissed it. "If somebody had to have it, I'm glad it's you," he said.