Katherine kept silence, and still held her handkerchief to her eyes.  So Mrs. Ormonde resumed:  “A good, religious girl like you, Katherine, must feel that it is right to submit to the will of—­”

“Yes, yes; I know all about that,” interrupted Katherine, who was rather irritated than soothed by her sister-in-law’s attempt at preaching; and recovering herself, she added:  “I will not worry you with my tears.  Tell me how the boys get on with Colonel Ormonde.”

“Very well indeed, especially Cecil.  ’Duke is very kind.  They have a pony, and quite enjoy the country; but now that we have a boy of our own, we feel doubly anxious that Cis and Charlie should be permanently provided for; so do, dear, come back with me, and talk it all over with my husband.  He is such a good man of business.”

Katherine smiled faintly; she had not seen the drift of Mrs. Ormonde’s remarks at first; there was no mistaking them now.  A slightly mischievous sense of power kept her from setting her sister-in-law’s mind at rest immediately.

“I do not think it necessary to consult with Colonel Ormonde, Ada, for I have quite made up my mind what to do.  I think you may trust your boys to me.  I must see Mr. Newton and arrange many matters, so I do not think I can go to you just yet.  Then, I do not like to be in the way, and I could not mix in society just yet.  Oh, I am not morbid or sentimental, but some months of seclusion I must have.”

Mrs. Ormonde played with the tassel of the screen with which she sheltered her face from the fire while she thought:  “What can she really mean to do?  I wonder if she is engaged to any one, and waiting for him here?  Once she is married, good-by to a settlement.  She is awfully deep!” Then she said aloud, coaxingly, “Oh, we are very quiet home-staying people.  We have a few men to stay now and again, but we never give big dinners.  Tell me the truth, dear, are you not engaged?  It would be but natural.  A charming girl like you, with a large fortune, could not escape a multitude of lovers.”

“You are wrong, Ada.  I am not engaged, and I have no lovers.  Of course a prince or two and a German graf did me the honor of proposing to annex my property, taking myself with it.  Any well-dowered girl may expect such offers in Continental society; but they did not affect me.”

“No, no; certainly not!  It will be an Englishman.  Quite right.  And ’Duke must find out all about him.  You know, dear, you would marry ever so much better from my house than you possibly could here, with a person who, after all, merely keeps a pension.”

“If Miss Payne could hear you!” said Katherine.

“Oh, I should never say it to her.  But, Katherine, now is your time, when you are of age, and before you marry—­now is the time to settle whatever you intend to settle on my poor little boys.  I am sure you will excuse me for mentioning it, won’t you?  Between you and me, I don’t think ’Duke would have married if he had not believed you would provide for Cis and Charlie.  I don’t know what would become of us if they were thrown on his hands.”