As in most women of her class and bringing-up, Cecilia’s qualities of reticence and subtlety, the delicate treading of her spirit, were seen to advantage in a situation such as this.  Unlike Stephen, who had shown at once that he had something on his mind, she received Hilary with that exact shade of friendly, intimate, yet cool affection long established by her as the proper manner towards her husband’s brother.  It was not quite sisterly, but it was very nearly so.  It seemed to say:  ’We understand each other as far as it is right and fitting that we should; we even sympathise with the difficulties we have each of us experienced in marrying the other’s sister or brother, as the case may be.  We know the worst.  And we like to see each other, too, because there are bars between us, which make it almost piquant.’

Giving him her soft little hand, she began at once to talk of things farthest from her heart.  She saw that she was deceiving Hilary, and this feather in the cap of her subtlety gave her pleasure.  But her nerves fluttered at once when he said:  “I want to speak to you, Cis.  You know that Stephen and I had a talk yesterday, I suppose?”

Cecilia nodded.

“I have spoken to B.!”

“Oh!” Cecilia murmured.  She longed to ask what Bianca had said, but did not dare, for Hilary had his armour on, the retired, ironical look he always wore when any subject was broached for which he was too sensitive.

She waited.

“The whole thing is distasteful to me,” he said; “but I must do something for this child.  I can’t leave her completely in the lurch.”

Cecilia had an inspiration.

“Hilary,” she said softly, “Mrs. Tallents Smallpeace is in the drawing-room.  She was just speaking of the girl to Stephen.  Won’t you come in, and arrange with her quietly?”

Hilary looked at his sister-in-law for a moment without speaking, then said: 

“I draw the line there.  No, thank you.  I’ll see this through myself.”

Cecilia fluttered out: 

“Oh, but, Hilary, what do you mean?”

“I am going to put an end to it.”

It needed all Cecilia’s subtlety to hide her consternation.  End to what?  Did he mean that he and B. were going to separate?

“I won’t have all this vulgar gossip about the poor girl.  I shall go and find another room for her.”

Cecilia sighed with relief.

“Would you-would you like me to come too, Hilary?”

“It’s very good of you,” said Hilary dryly.  “My actions appear to rouse suspicions.”

Cecilia blushed.

“Oh, that’s absurd!  Still, no one could think anything if I come with you.  Hilary, have you thought that if she continues coming to Father—–­”

“I shall tell her that she mustn’t!”

Cecilia’s heart gave two thumps, the first with pleasure, the second with sympathy.

“It will be horrid for you,” she said.  “You hate doing anything of that sort.”