‘You were right, as you always are—a real fairy godmother; and I was a very good child, and did exactly as you advised!’ CHAPTER X. MR. AND MRS. BELASSIS. ‘I think I must take you over to Thornton House this afternoon, Phil,’ said Tor, ‘and reintroduce you to your esteemed aunt and uncle.’ Phil made a grimace, which indicated that he did not look forward with eagerness to the impending introduction to his kinsfolk. ‘I wanted to go and see old Meredith.’ ‘We’ll take him on the way back, if you like,’ answered Tor; ‘but you ought to go first to see the Belassis family.’ They were sitting at lunch when this conversation took place, and Phil, for the first time, had taken his place at the foot of the table. Tor sat beside Maud, and seemed to feel in nowise degraded. The servants knew nothing of the transformation which had taken place. They believed that the young squire had arrived late the previous evening, and that the Signor had been called away the following morning. They were too much excited by the sudden change of master to have much interest to spare for the Italian. All their thoughts were given to puzzling over the strange change which had taken place; and all tongues were uttering speculations as to why Mr. Debenham had sent Mr. Torwood in his place, and made him take his name for three whole months. Phil was glad enough that it should be so. He was heartily ashamed of his distrust of his friend, and consequently the whole of the Signor Pagliadini episode was highly distasteful to him. He felt degraded by the thought that he had come in disguise to spy upon Tor; and he was really anxious that the matter should remain unknown, outside the walls of his own house. Hence his reluctance to face Mrs. Belassis. ‘I was almost conspiring with her against Tor,’ he said ruefully. ‘I could not bear her ever to remind me of that, and I know she will.’ ‘Why should she ever have the opportunity?’ said Miss Marjory. ‘It will be your fault if she does.’ ‘How?’ ‘It was Signor Pagliadini, not Mr. Philip Debenham, who nearly made a confidante of her.’ Miss Marjory spoke with some significance, and Phil’s face brightened. ‘You think I needn’t say that I was the Signor?’ ‘Why should you say so?’ ‘I don’t know, I’m sure. I fancied it would all have to come out.’ ‘Why?’ ‘I don’t know. Don’t you think she’ll suspect?’ ‘No, I don’t—I’m quite sure she won’t,’ said Miss Marjory, nodding her head emphatically. ‘If you deceived me, young man, I’m quite sure you equally deceived Mrs. Belassis.’ ‘I think,’ said Mrs. Lorraine gently, ‘that no one besides our six selves need ever know exactly how matters really stand, or that Mr. Torwood ever acted as anything but dear Philip’s deputy.’ ‘Quite so,’ said Miss Marjory. ‘Mr. Torwood was doing the best thing possible for his friend’s interests; and if not very wisely, he acted most generously, and great good has been done by it.’