“Indeed! Is he staying here? We must ask him to come up to luncheon or to tea. I am glad he is doing so well. I heard Eccles and Beamster were to do the decorations; I suppose they employ him. I should think it was a very good line to get into.” This was on a Friday; and the next day Magdalen proposed driving down in the cool of the evening to see the decorations at St. Kenelm’s and their artist; but it turned out that he was gone to spend Sunday at the Cathedral city, and all that could be done was to admire the designs, and listen to Paula’s enthusiastic explanation. Magdalen consulted Agatha whether to send young Delrio a card for the garden party; but they decided that it was too late for an invitation to be sent, though a spoken one might have been possible. Besides, it was not likely to be pleasant to a stranger who knew no one but the Flights and Hendersons, and those professionally. Agatha told her sisters, and with one voice they declared that they would not see him patronised; while Agatha’s acute senses doubted whether Vera’s objection was not secretly based on the embarrassment of a double flirtation with him and with Wilfred Merrifield. Indeed, Vera told her gaily: “Only think, Nag, I did have a jolly ride on the M.A.’s bike after all.” “Indeed! Then she lent it to you.” “Not she! But she and the little kid were safe gone to Avoncester, and Paula was with her dear Sisters, so Will and I took a jolly spin along the cliff road; and it was such screaming fun. Only once we thought we saw old Sir Jasper coming, and we got behind a barn, but it turned out to be only a tripper, and we had such a laugh.” “Paula does not know?” “What would be the good of telling her, with her little nun’s schoolgirl mind? She would only make no end of a fuss about a mere bit of fun and nonsense.” “I think if Wilfred Merrifield was afraid to meet his father, it showed a sense of wrong.” “Sir Jasper is a horrid old martineau, who never gives them any peace at home, but is always after them.” “A martinet, I suppose you mean. I don’t think that makes it any better. I should not be happy till Magdalen knew.” “Why, no harm was done! There’s her precious machine all safe! It was just for the fun of the thing, and to try how it goes. One can’t be kept in like a blessed baby! She never has guessed it. That’s the fun of it.” “I would not return her kindness in such an unladylike way when she is trusting you, Vera.” Did Magdalen know what had been done? She did guess, for there was a mark on the wheel that she did not remember to have known before, and it cost her a bitter pang of mistrust; but she abstained from inquiries, thinking that they might only do harm. But she bought a chain for her bicycle; and Agatha felt more shame than did Vera, who tried to believe herself amused by her tacit sense of emancipation. CHAPTER X—FLOWN “Till now thy soul hath been all glad and gay, Bid it arise and look on grief to-day.”