‘"All along of Eliza!"’ mused Mannering.  ’She’s been away from Mannering just lately.  Her invalid mother became very seriously ill about three weeks ago, and she had to go home for a time.  My father, of course, has been fussing and fuming to get her back.’

‘Poor Squire!  But how could Pamela be spared too?’

Mannering hesitated.

’Well, the fact is she and my father seem to have had a good old-fashioned row.  She tried to fill Miss Bremerton’s place, and of course it didn’t answer.  She’s too young, and my father too exacting.  Then when it broke down, and he took things out of her hands again, comparing her, of course, enormously to her disadvantage with Miss Bremerton, Pamela lost her temper and said foolish things of Miss Bremerton.  Whereupon fury on my father’s part—­and sudden departure on Pamela’s.  She actually bicycled off to the railway station, sent a telegram for her things, and came up to Margaret.  Alice Gaddesden is looking after father.  But of course he and she don’t get on a bit.’

The Captain looked much concerned.

’It’s a pity Pamela takes that line—­don’t you think?  I really don’t see the conspirator in Miss Bremerton.  I hoped when I saw her first she would make just all the difference to Pamela.’

’Yes, it’s puzzling.  I ran down to see my father, who was in a rabid state of mind, not knowing what to do with all the schemes and business this clever woman started—­perfectly lost without her.’

‘Ah, that’s the worst of your Indispensable!’ laughed Chicksands.

Mannering threw him a quick, scrutinizing look.  Various items of information picked up at Mannering, mostly from his sister Alice, had made him wonder whether some jealousy of a more vital and intimate kind than appeared might not be at the root of Pamela’s behaviour.  He was not observant at this period of his life, except of things relating to his engagement to Beryl, his work, or those inner pre-occupations which held him.  But it had once or twice crossed his mind that Pamela might be interested in Arthur; and there had been certain hints from Beryl, who was, however, he was certain, scarcely better informed than he was.  Pamela was a most secretive and independent young woman.  He doubted whether even Desmond, whom she adored, knew much about her.

Well, supposing she was jealous—­jealous of her father’s secretary, and on account of Arthur, was there the smallest cause for it?  He understood that Arthur and Miss Bremerton had met occasionally, and he had himself heard Chicksands express the warmest admiration for her as the right sort of new woman, ’as straight as you make ’em’—­and with ’a brain like a man’—­which, from one who was always rather a critical spectator than a courtier of women, was high praise.  But as for any spark of sex in it—­Mannering laughed at the notion.  No.  If that really was Pamela’s delusion, something must be done to rid his little sister of it if possible.  He would talk to Beryl.