"I've really had to be quite shy with Mr. Dormer in the hothouses," she said. "He's such a ladies' man! And he's gone away with the impression that that's the sort of man I like. He has pointed out that Hingston is only fifteen miles off, and that he has a motor car and can do the distance in twenty-two--or was it twenty-seven?--minutes, so that lots can be seen of him, if desired. He has hinted that this is, after all, a lonely life for me--for a person of my gifts and attractions--and has congratulated me on the growing prosperity of Catsford. What do you make of all that, Austin?" "Perhaps you told him that you wanted a bit of his land?" "Mr. Cartmell would never have forgiven me if I'd let slip such a propitious opportunity. I did." "It rather looks as if he wanted all of yours," I suggested. "Then he communicated to me the impression that, in his opinion, Lord Lacey was considerably smitten with Eunice Aspenick and that the match might come off. In return for which I managed, I believe, to convey to him a sort of twofold impression--first, that I might possibly marry myself--some day; secondly, that, when I did, Margaret would be dismissed with a decent provision--a small addition to the little income which she has from her father. For reasons of my own I laid some stress on the latter half of that impression, Austin." She was looking over to where Margaret lay in the hammock. "She's very young," she said softly, "and of course, the man's glib and in a way good-looking." "Are you beginning to feel a little responsible? It's easy work, marrying off other people!" "But they make such a beautiful pair!" she pleaded. She did not mean Margaret and Dormer. "I love just to see them together. And the idea of it! How Leonard would have laughed! Can't you hear that great big outrageous guffaw of his breaking out over it? But you don't think I'd force her?" "No. And he's a fine lad. You wouldn't be going far wrong." "She's very young. She might--make a mistake. I thought Mr. Dormer had better understand her real situation." "O mistress of many wiles, I understand! But is Lacey to share the impression?" "I should like him to--up to the last possible minute. And then--the fairy godmother! It's all on the old-fashioned lines--but I like it." Her voice dropped. "The old, mischievous, none-too-respectable fairy godmother, Austin!" "Suppose the fairy godmother seemed not so very old herself--that mischief proved attractive--that----?" "Impossible--with her here! Oh, you really think so, only you're always so polite. But anything short of--of that--would be quite within the four corners of the scheme." She laughed at me, at her schemes, at herself; yet about the two last she was in deadly earnest. So she grew grave again in a moment. "He'd have to get over so much to make that seem even possible."