“Don’t you know that speech was given to us to enable us to conceal our thoughts, Colonel Dacre?” “You are fencing the question. I wish you would be frank with me for once.” “It is a great mistake to be frank. You only put weapons into your enemies’ hands for them to wound you with.” “But you are not obliged to be frank with enemies, Lady Gwendolyn.” “If once people get into the habit, it is very difficult to break it off. Besides, who is to discriminate between friend and foe?” “I thought a woman’s wonderful instinct always helped her there.” “Not always. For instance”--saucily--“I have never been able to discover yet whether you like me or not.” “Then you must be extraordinarily obtuse,” he answered, in the same tone. “I acknowledged as much just now.” But at this moment they reached the Hall, in spite of Colonel Dacre’s lingering, and he carried her carefully over the threshold, and placed her on the sofa in a small room, which had once been his mother’s boudoir, and where the pretty things a refined woman likes to collect around her lay about in elegant profusion. “Now I will go and speak to my housekeeper, and place you in her charge during my absence,” he said; and was moving toward the door, when she put out her hand and detained him. “Colonel Dacre, will you do me a great favor?” “A dozen if I had the chance,” he answered, with more vehemence than he was conscious of. “I don’t want any one to know I am here until you return.” “Oh, but, Lady Gwendolyn, it is impossible that I should leave you without assistance.” “Not if I prefer it?” she asked, with her most persuasive accent. “When people want things that are bad for them we generally serve them, in spite of themselves, by a denial.” “Yes; but this is not really bad for me. My foot has entirely ceased to pain me, and what I want now is simply rest and quiet. I know Mrs. Whittaker, and she is a terrible gossip. I could not stand her in my best moments; now she would irritate me beyond endurance.” Seeing him still hesitate, she added, in a decided tone: “Very well, then, if she comes, or any fuss is made in the house, I will hop home, somehow, Colonel Dacre. There will be an astonishing story abroad to-morrow if Mrs. Whittaker is taken into our confidence----” “But how is this to be avoided?” he interrupted. “Very easily indeed. Lady Teignmouth will come to fetch me presently, and how should your servants know that we did not arrive together?” “You forget that we shall have to account for Doctor Thurlow’s sudden visit.” “I don’t see any need for that. You are not surely bound to keep your servants _au courant_ as to all your movements.” “That is about the last thing I should think of as a rule. I trouble myself very little about what they think; but I am naturally sensitive for you, Lady Gwendolyn.” “If that is the case, you must see that my proposition is a good one. The servants are less likely to talk if they have nothing to talk about.”