’I am afraid people are talking about it, and that surely is not desirable.’

‘But why do you come telling me these stories?’ she said.

‘Why, mamma, because I thought it right to do so.’

The word ‘right’ was unpleasant; but, recovering her temper, which for years before had never failed her, Mrs. Barton returned to her sweet little flattering manners.

’Of course, of course, my dear girl; but you do not understand me.  What I mean to say is, Have you any definite reason for supposing that Olive is in love with Captain Hibbert, and that people are talking about it?’

‘I think so, mamma,’ said the girl, deceived by this expression of goodwill.  ’You remember when the Scullys came here?  Well, Violet was up in our room, and we were showing her our dresses; the conversation somehow turned on Captain Hibbert, and when Violet said that she had seen him that day, as they came along in the carriage, shooting with the Lawlers, Olive burst out crying and rushed out of the room.  It was very awkward.  Violet said she was very sorry and all that, but—­’

’Yes, yes, dear; but why was Olive angry at hearing that Captain Hibbert went out shooting with the Lawlers?’

’Because, it appears, she had previously forbidden him to go there, you know, on account of Mrs. Lawler.’

‘And what happened then?’

’Well, that’s the worst of it.  I don’t mean to say it was all Olive’s fault; I think she must have lost her head a little, for she sent Barnes over that evening to the Lawlers’ with a note, telling Captain Hibbert that he must come at once and explain.  It was eleven o’clock at night, and they had a long talk through the window.’

Mrs. Barton did not speak for some moments.  The peat-fire was falling into masses of white ash, and she thought vaguely of putting on some more turf; then her attention was caught by the withering ferns in the flower-glasses, then by the soaking pasture-lands, then by the spiky branches of the chestnut-trees swinging against the grey, dead sky.

‘But tell me, Alice,’ she said at last, ’for of course it is important that I should know—­do you think that Olive is really in love with Captain Hibbert?’

’She told me, as we were going to bed the other night, mamma, that she never could care for anyone else; and—­and’

‘And what, dear?’

‘I don’t like to betray my sister’s confidence,’ Alice answered, ’but I’m sure I had better tell you all:  she told me that he had kissed her many times, and no later than yesterday, in the conservatory.’

‘Indeed! you did very well to let me know of this,’ said Mrs. Barton, becoming as earnestly inclined as her daughter Alice.  ’I am sorry that Olive was so foolish; I must speak to her about it.  This must not occur again.  I think that if you were to tell her to come down here—­’

’Oh no, mamma; Olive would know at once that I had been speaking about her affairs; you must promise me to make only an indirect use of what I have told you.’