Lady Adeline looked anxiously at the door while her husband was speaking. She was in terror lest Mr. Kilroy should come in and hear him, for Mr. Hamilton-Wells had a habit of threshing his subject out, even when it was obviously unfortunate, and would not allow himself to be interrupted by anybody. He made his favourite gesture with his hands when he had spoken, which consisted in spreading his long white fingers out as if he wore lace ruffles which were in the way, and was shaking them back a little. He had a long cadaverous face, clean shaven; straight hair of suspicious brownness, parted in the middle and plastered down on either side of his head; and a general air of being one of his own Puritan ancestors who should have appeared in black velvet and lace; and his punctilious manners strengthened this impression. The one trinket he displayed was a ring, which he wore on the forefinger of his right hand, a handsome intaglio carved out of crimson coral. It seemed to be the only part of his natural costume which had survived, and came into play continually. Mr. Kilroy entered the room in time to hear the concluding remark, but naturally did not take it to himself, and Lord Dawne, seeing his sister's trepidation, came to the rescue by diverting the subject into another channel. They were all sitting round an open window, and just at that moment the twins themselves appeared in sight, straggling up the drive in a deep discourse, with their arms round each other's necks, and Angelica's dark head resting against Diavolo's fair one. "Harmony reigns among the heavenly bodies, apparently," said Dr. Galbraith. "The powers of darkness plotting evil, more likely," said their uncle Dawne. "Naughty children! What have they done with their hats?" Lady Adeline exclaimed. "Discovered some ingenious method of doing damage to my hay with them, most probably," Dr. Galbraith observed. They all leant forward, watching the children. "Angelica is growing up," said Lord Dawne. "She has always been the taller, stronger, and wickeder of the two, and will remain so, I expect," said Dr. Galbraith. "But how old is she now exactly?" Mr. Kilroy wished to know. "Nearly sixteen," Lady Adeline answered. "But a very young sixteen in some ways, I am thankful to say. And I believe we have you to thank, Mr. Ellis, for keeping her so." The tutor's strong but careworn face flushed sensitively; but he only answered with a deprecating gesture. "Then how old is Diavolo?" Mr. Kilroy pursued absently. "About the same age," Mr. Hamilton-Wells replied, without moving a muscle of his face. Lady Adeline looked puzzled: "Of course they are the same age," she said, as if the point could be disputed. Mr. Kilroy woke up: "Oh, of course, of course!" he exclaimed with some embarrassment.