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and that he is taking you back with him because his father has become your guardian. Sugar?”
    The egg-shell china cup was handed to me. I noticed her long white delicate fingers and the opal ring which she was wearing.
    “How exciting it must be to be going to Australia,” she said.
    “It must be exciting to live in a house like this,” I replied.
    “Having lived all my life in it I think I have become
     
    somewhat blase. It would only be if we lost it that we should realize what it means to us. “
    “But you will never lose it,” I replied.
    “Who could possibly part with such a place?”
    “Oh never, of course,” she answered lightly.
    Lucie was busy at the table. Lady Cardew’s eyes were fixed on me but she did not appear to see me; she had scarcely spoken and seemed half asleep. I wondered if she were ill; she did not seem very old, but she certainly behaved like an old woman.
    I asked Minta about the house, telling her that the cab driver had pointed it out to me. Yes, she said, it was true that it had been built on the site of the old nunnery. In fact quite a lot of the original building remained.
    “Some of the rooms really are like cells, aren’t they, Lucie?”
    Lucie agreed that they were.
    “It’s been in the family for years now and of course I’ve disappointed them because I’m a girl. There are often girls in this family. But we’ve been here … how long is it, Lucie? 1550? Yes that’s right.
    Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries and Whiteladies was partially destroyed then. My ancestor did something to please him and was given the place to build on, which he did in due course. There were lots of the stones left, so they were used; and, as I said, a good deal of the place remained. “
    “Mr. Wakefield is here,” said Lucie. A man was coming across the lawn—the most exquisite man I had ever seen. His clothes were impeccably tailored and I discovered that his manners matched them.
    Minta jumped up and ran towards him. He took her hand and kissed it.
    Charming! I thought. I knew Stirling would be amused. Then he went to Lady Cardew and did the same. He bowed to Lucie. Oh yes, Lucie was not quite one of the family.
    Minta had turned to us.
    “I’m afraid I don’t know your names. You see, Franklyn, a scarf blew over and it belongs to Miss …”
    “Tamasin,” I said.
    “Nora Tamasin.” He bowed beautifully. I added: “And this is Mr. Stirling Herrick.”
    “From Australia,” added Minta.
    “How interesting 1’ Mr. Franklyn Wakefield’s face expressed polite interest in my scarf and us and I liked him for it.
    “You’re just in time for a cup of tea,” said Minta.
     
    I realized of course that there was no reason why we should stay and unless we took our departure immediately we should become ungracious intruders. Stirling however made no attempt to move. He had settled back in his chair and was watching the scene and in particular Minta with an intentness which could only be described as eager.
    I said, rising: “You have been most kind. We must go. It only remains to say thank you for being so good to strangers.”
    I sensed Stirling’s annoyance with me. He wanted to stay;
    he seemed to have no idea that we were intruding on their privacy, or if he had he did not care. But I was determined.
    Minta smiled at Lucie who immediately rose to conduct us to the gates.
    “I do apologize for intruding on your tea-party,” I said.
    “It was quite a diversion,” replied Lucie. There was that in her manner which I found disconcerting. She was aloof, yet somehow vulnerable. She seemed over-anxious to maintain a dignity which was perhaps due to the fact that she was a poor relation.
    “Miss Minta is charming,” I said.
    “I’ll endorse that,” added Stirling.
    “She is a delightful person,” agreed Lucie.
    “And I am grateful to you for bandaging my hand, Miss …”
    “Maryan,” she supplied.
    “Lucie Maryan.”
    “A poor relation certainly,” I