“Were they?” answered Catherine.  “I didn’t notice anything the matter with them.  I talked for a short time with Mrs. Meadowsweet, and found her most interesting.  She told me a lot about Beatrice.  She thinks Beatrice the noblest creature in the world.  As I very nearly agreed with her we got on capitally.”

“What a romantic puss you are, Kate,” said her brother.

She was leaning on him, and he gave her arm a playful pinch.

“You met Miss Meadowsweet on Tuesday, wasn’t it?  This is Friday, and she is the ‘very dearest girl in the world,’ and already you are Catherine and Beatrice to one another.  Upon my word, hearts move rapidly towards each other in certain quarters.”

“In more quarters than one,” replied Kate, with an arch smile.  “How you did flatter that poor little Miss Bell, Loftie.  Her cheeks were like peonies while you talked to her.  You certainly had an air of great tenderness, and I expect you have turned the poor little thing’s head.”

“Yes, Loftus,” interrupted Mabel.  “I remarked you, too, with Miss Bell.  What a little fright she is—­I never could have supposed she was in your style.”

“Good gracious,” began Loftus, “you didn’t think—­”

But Catherine in her sedate voice interrupted him.

“Beatrice and I were watching you.  I laughed when I saw that expression of tenderness filling your glorious dark eyes, but I think Bee was vexed.”

“Vexed?  No, Kate, surely not vexed?”

“I think so, Loftus.  She said to me—­’I hope your brother is not laughing at my little friend, Matty Bell.’  Then she added, ’I know Matty is not beautiful nor specially attractive, but she has the kindest heart.’  I said perhaps you were flirting, and that I knew you could flirt.  She did not make any answer, only she looked grave, and turned away when you and Miss Bell came near us.”

“That accounts,” began Loftus.  He did not explain himself further and by-and-by the little party reached the Manor.

There was an old tumble-down lodge at the gates.  It was inhabited by a very poor man, who, for the sake of getting a shelter over his head, now and then undertook to clean up and do odd jobs in the Rosendale gardens.  Mrs. Bertram thought it well to have some one in the lodge, and she was pleased with the economical arrangement she had made with David Tester.

One of his duties was to lock the old gates at night.  There was a small and a large gate leading into the avenue, and it was one of Mrs. Bertram’s special whims that both should be locked at night.  Old Tester thought his mistress foolishly particular on this point, and wondered at so close a lady going to the expense of new locks, which were sent down from London, and were particularly good and expensive.

The small gate was furnished with a latch-lock as well.  This arrangement was made for Tester’s convenience, so that if Mrs. Bertram and her daughters chose to be absent from home a little later than usual, he could still close the gate and go to bed.