"By the express I hope, this time, however," I answered with a smile. "Oh, Mr Payne," I went on, in a tone of relief, "I am so glad you have mentioned it. I am so longing to know something about the Grim-- Grimsthorpe and those poor people, and I have been wondering how I could ask you, without committing any terrible breach of--etiquette, or whatever it is I should call it." He did not laugh or smile, but took my question in sober earnest, which I was very glad of. "Ask me anything you like," he said quietly. "Your doing so cannot infringe any rule, written or unwritten. As to what I may be able to answer, that is a different matter, but I know you will not misunderstand if I am unable to say much. Perhaps I may ask you a question in the first place? Have you heard anything of--the Greys lately? Your friends, their neighbours, are still at the Manor-house I suppose--they are residents there, are they not?" "Oh dear, yes," I replied. "The Wynyards have been at Millflowers from time immemorial. So of course they know all that any outsider can know about Grimsthorpe. But Mr Wynyard put down gossip with an iron hand-- that was why Moore--my brother--and I were _so_ grateful to Mr Grey for agreeing that nothing should be said about that--that inexcusable intrusion." "Your brother is only a schoolboy, when all is said and done," said Clarence, as I momentarily hesitated. I felt my face grow red, but I don't think he noticed it. "Ah!" I exclaimed, "you don't know all--you judge too leniently. Some day perhaps," but then I broke off abruptly. There was time enough for confessing my own foolish share in the affair; what I had to do at present was not to lose the opportunity. "I must answer your question," I resumed. "No, I have not heard anything at all for many weeks; the Wynyards have been away, and it is not probable that Miss Wynyard had anything to tell me, though she does know that I am greatly interested in the Grim House people." Clarence smiled a little. "Oh! that's what they call the place, is it?" he said; "I had not heard it before. You see I know nothing of the neighbourhood or of what is said about them there. I go down solely on business, and never prolong my stay unnecessarily. Then," he added, "does Miss Wynyard not know anything about the real circumstances of your brother's accident?" "Of course not," I replied, with a touch of indignation. "Have you forgotten my arrangement with Mr Grey? That no one but themselves, and you of course, and Moore and I, should know about it. Why, even when the little old sisters came over so kindly the next morning, they did not hint in the very slightest degree that they had heard anything of it except from outside sources!" But my rather sharp retort and reproachful manner only seemed to amuse my companion again. "Yes," he said, "I gathered as much from Miss Grey's account of the visit. It must have been quite a little comedy in its way."