"Like poor Edith?" she suggested. Dawne compressed his lips. "That was her ideal," Angelica proceeded--"her own home and husband and family, someone to love and trust and look up to. She told me all about it at Fountain Towers under the influence of indignation and strong tea. And she was _an exquisite womanly creature!_ No, thank you! It isn't safe to be an _an exquisite womanly creature_ in this rotten world. The most useful kind of heart for a woman is one hard enough to crack nuts with. Nobody could wring it then." "You would lose all finer feeling--" Lord Dawne began. "Including the heartache itself," she supplemented. "But what _do_ you want?" he asked. "An object," she answered. "Something! something! something beyond the mere getting up in the morning and going to bed at night, with an interval of exercise between. I want to do something for somebody!" Lord Dawne raised his eyebrows slightly. He had no idea that such a notion had ever entered her head. At this point, a servant was sent by his Grace to request the twins to be so good as to go to him in the library at once. "It is the inevitable inquiry," Angelica said resignedly. "Come with us, uncle, _do_," she coaxed. "It is sure to be fun!" Lord Dawne consented. On the way, Diavolo remarked ambiguously: "But I don't understand yet how there came to be a ghost as well!" The inquiry led to nothing. The Heavenly Twins had determined not to incriminate themselves, and they refused to answer a question. They stood together, drawn up in line, with their hands behind their backs; changed from one leg to the other when they were tired, and looked exceedingly bored; but they would not speak. The duke stormed, Lady Fulda entreated, Father Ricardo prayed, even Lord Dawne begged them not to be obstinate; but it was all in vain, and their grandfather, losing all patience, ordered them out of the room at last. As they retired, Diavolo asked Father Ricardo if he were thinking of thumbscrews. "I feel quite sure that Angelica did not know the doll was there," Lord Dawne said when the twins had gone. "I fancy it was a trick Diavolo had played her." Nobody mentioned the ghost again. It was felt to be a delicate subject. Lady Fulda was made to take rest and a tonic, the duke was rigidly dieted, and Father Ricardo was sent away for change of air. But the twins never ceased from troubling. As soon as the duke's temper was restored, they consulted the party collectively at afternoon tea in the oriel room on the subject of Angelica's dissatisfaction. Diavolo affected to share it, but that was only by way of being agreeable, as he inadvertently betrayed. "I suppose I shall have to do something myself," he drawled in his lazy way. "I should think marriage is the best profession for you!" said Angelica scornfully. "Thank you. I will consider the question," Diavolo answered. He was lying on the floor in his habitual attitude, with his head on the windowsill, beaming about him blandly.