Jean responded gladly enough, and presently Sir Adrian was temporarily forgotten in the little intimate half-hour of woman-talk which followed. CHAPTER XV--LADY ANNE’S DISCLOSURE “WELL, have you enjoyed yourself?” enquired Lady Anne when Jean returned. “I suppose so, as you stayed to tea”--smiling. “Oh, I had tea with Claire. Sir Adrian was away”--with a small grimace--“so we had quite a nice little time together. But, yes, madonna”--Jean had fallen into the use of the gracious little name which Blaise and Nick kept for their mother--“I really enjoyed myself very much. Judith was ever so much nicer than I expected.” “So now, I suppose, we shall all be side-tracked in favour of Burke and his sister?” put in Blaise, who had been listening quietly. There was a sharpness in his tones, as though the prospect did not please. Jean smiled at him engagingly. “Of course you will,” she replied. “I invariably sidetrack old friends when I get the chance.” “Oh, you’ll get the chance right enough!”--rather sulkily. “Yes, I think I shall”--demurely. “Geoffrey has always been nice to me; and now Judith, too, has succumbed to my charms, and says she hopes we shall be good pals.” Tormarin rose, pushing back his chair with unnecessary violence. “I don’t think I see Judith Craig extending her friendship to Glyn Peterson’s daughter,” he commented cynically. An instant later the door banged behind, and Lady Anne and Jean looked across at each other smiling, as women will when one of their menkind proceeds to behave exactly like a cross little boy. But a quick sigh chased the smile from Lady Anne’s lips. “Poor old Blaise!” she murmured, as though to herself. Then, her grey eyes meeting Jean’s squarely, she said quietly: “Jean, you’re so much one of us, now, that I should like you to know what lies at the hack of things. You’d understand--some of us--better.” Jean turned impulsively. “I don’t need to understand you,” she said quickly. “I love you.” “Thank you, my dear.” Lady Anne’s voice trembled slightly. “If I were not sure of that, I shouldn’t tell you what I am going to. But I want you to understand Blaise--and to make allowances for him, if you can.” Jean pulled forward a stool and settled herself at Lady Anno’s feet. “Do you mean about the ‘mark of the beast’?” she asked, smiling a little. “Blaise told me to ask you about it one day.” “Did he? He thinks far too much about it and what it stands for”--sadly. “It has come to be almost a symbol in his eyes. You see, he too has suffered from the family failing--the very failing that was responsible for that white lock of hair.” “Tell me about it.” Lady Anne looked down at her thoughtfully.