“Silly child!” he said.  “I am sure you will like my aunt.”

The door flew open before them.  A footman stood aside to let them pass.  An elderly servant in plain black clothes came hurrying down from a little office.

“I trust that your Grace is well?” he said.

“Very well indeed, thank you, Jameson,” Mildmay said.  “Is my aunt in?”

“Her ladyship is in the morning-room, your Grace,” the man answered, with an almost imperceptible glance towards Virginia.  “Shall I announce you?”

“Is she alone?” Mildmay asked.

“For the moment, yes, your Grace,” the man answered.

Guy led Virginia across the hall, knocked at a door and entered.  A tall, grey-haired lady was sitting on a sofa with a tea-tray by her side.  She was very good-looking, and absurdly like Mildmay, to whom she held out her right hand.  Guy stooped and raised it to his lips.

“My dear aunt,” he said, “can you stand a shock?”

“That depends,” she answered, glancing at Virginia.  “My nerves are not what they were, you know.  However, go on.”

“I am trying you rather high, I know,” he said, “but there are reasons for it which I can explain later on.  I have brought a young lady to see you, Miss Virginia Longworth.  I want you to like her very much, because she has promised to be my wife.”

Lady Medlincourt held out her hand, long and slim and delicate, and made room for Virginia by her side on the sofa.

“How are you, my dear?” she said quite calmly.  “Will you have some tea?  It’s beastly, I know, been standing for hours, but Guy can ring for some fresh.  So you are really going to marry my nephew?”

Virginia raised her eyes, and looked for a moment into the face of the woman who sat by her side.

“Yes, Lady Medlincourt,” she answered; “I do hope you will not be angry.”

“Angry!  My dear child, I am never angry,” Lady Medlincourt declared.  “I have arrived at that time in life when one cannot afford the luxury of giving way to emotion.  You won’t mind my asking you a few questions, though, both of you.  To begin with, I do not know your name.  Who are you?”

Guy leaned a little forward.

“She will be Duchess of Mowbray in a very short time, aunt,” he said.  “Please don’t forget that.”

Lady Medlincourt raised her eyebrows.

“Bless the boy!” she exclaimed.  “As though I were likely to!  I can feel it go shivering down my backbone all the time.  Sit here for a moment, both of you.  I am going to give Jameson orders myself not to admit any one for a little while.”

She crossed the room and they were alone for a moment.  They exchanged quick glances, and Guy laughed at the consternation in Virginia’s face.

“Don’t be scared, little woman,” he said.  “You’ll get on all right with my aunt, I am sure.  She is a little odd just at first, and she hates to show any feeling about anything, but she’s a thundering good sort.”