It was very hard for her to lie like this when her daughter was only a few yards away, chatting to Maxwell at the window; but Mrs. Belswin looked upon such necessary denial as punishment for her sins, and accepted it accordingly. "I'm very sorry," observed Mrs. Valpy, with well-bred condolence. "Still, time brings consolation." "Not to all people." "Oh, yes, I think so. Besides, now you have that dear girl, Kaituna, and she seems very fond of you." "Yes." She could say no more. The strangeness of the situation excited her to laughter, to that laughter which is very near tears, and she was afraid to speak lest she should break down. "And then Sir Rupert will be so glad to find his daughter has such a good friend." The mention of the hated name restored Mrs. Belswin to her usual self, and with a supercilious glance at the blundering woman who had so unconsciously wounded her, she answered in her ordinary manner-- "I hope so! But I'm afraid I shall not have an opportunity of seeing Sir Rupert at once, as I go to town shortly, on business." "But you will return?" "Oh, yes! of course I shall return, unless some unforeseen circumstances should arise. We are never certain of anything in the future, you know, Mrs. Valpy." "No, perhaps not! At all events I think you will like Sir Rupert." Mrs. Belswin sneered. "Oh, do you think so?" "I'm certain. Such a gentlemanly man. Quite young for his age. I wonder he does not marry again." "Perhaps he had enough of matrimony with his first wife," said Mrs. Belswin, coolly. "Oh, he was devotedly attached to her." "Was he, indeed?" "Yes! Simply worshipped her. She died in New Zealand when Kaituna was a baby, I believe, and Sir Rupert told me how this loss had overshadowed his life." "Hypocrite!" murmured Mrs. Belswin, between her clenched teeth. The conversation was becoming a little difficult for her to carry on, as she dare not disclose herself yet, and did not care about exchanging complimentary remarks on the subject of a man she detested so heartily. At this moment Toby struck a chord on the piano, and Tommy burst out laughing, so, with ready wit, Mrs. Belswin made this interruption serve as an excuse to break off the conversation. "The young people seem to be merry," she said to Mrs. Valpy, and rising to her feet, "I must go over and see what the joke is about." Mrs. Valpy nodded sleepily, feeling somewhat drowsy after her dinner, so Mrs. Belswin, seeing she did not mind being left to her own devices, walked across to the piano and interrupted the two lovers, for which interruption, however, they did not feel profoundly grateful. "Won't you sing something?" asked the companion, addressing Toby, "or you, Miss Valpy?" "Oh, my songs are too much of the orthodox drawing-room' type," replied Miss Valpy, disparagingly. "Now Toby is original in his ditties. Come, let's have a little chin-music, Toby!" "Wherever do you learn such slang?" said Mrs. Belswin, with a smile. "Toby."