“Indeed,” said Mrs. Grandison gravely. Her first opinion of Fenella’s conduct had been intensified to horror when the news of the murder and the trial were made public, and she had only taken charge of Ronny under protest--at the urgent request of her brother--and because she had felt it to be a Christian duty to keep the poor child, as far as possible, from hearing the terrible things that were said of his mother. But her dislike of the subject was so great that when Lucille said she was an intimate friend of the Onslows, she shrunk from her with ill-concealed aversion. “Indeed!” she reiterated slowly. “Yes, and have been so for years. This has been a terribly sad affair for them both, but let us hope the worst is over. Lord Francis feels naturally that it is best they should spend the next few years, at least, out of England; therefore, they start for the Brazils to-morrow, and wish naturally to take Ronny with them.” “Lord Francis is, then, reconciled to his wife?” “Oh, yes! Why should he not be? The unfortunate affair of Count de Mürger’s death really, redounds to her credit, and what preceded it was only a foolish misunderstanding!” “Of course if Lord Francis is satisfied, no one has a right to demur at his decision. You come from him, you say?” “Yes. He asked me to fetch Ronny home for him. He would have come himself, but he had no time. Here is his card, which he begged me to present to you, with a thousand thanks for your kindness to his child.” Mrs. Grandison hardly knew what to do. She disliked delivering Ronny into the charge of a stranger, and yet she felt she had no right to keep the boy against his parents’ wishes. She kept turning the card over and over in her hands as she considered the matter. “Did you say they sailed to-morrow?” she asked, presently. “Yes, to-morrow, at four in the afternoon.” “It is a very sudden resolution.” “Not at all. They have contemplated it for weeks past, but Lady Francis’ health has prevented them carrying it out. Now they have a sudden opportunity of which they wish to avail themselves. How long will it take to get Ronny ready to go back with me?” “Oh, that can be done in half an hour. But I wish my brother, who put him in my charge, had written me word that his parents wished to resume their guardianship.” “I know nothing of that,” snapped Lucille. “All Lord Francis told me was to come down to Felixstowe, and take back his boy to him at all costs; and I should think a parent’s wish was imperative.” “Certainly,” replied Mrs. Grandison, “and I should not dream of disputing it. If you will kindly wait here for a few minutes I will bring Ronny to you.”