’There is no telling the harm that is done by chattering gossip in this way.  You might have learnt by what happened before what mistakes are made.  What am I to do, Valetta?  I don’t want to hinder you from having friends and companions; but if you bring home such mischievous stories, I shall have to keep you entirely among ourselves till you are older and wiser.’

’I never—–­never will believe—–­anybody who says anybody is going to marry anybody!’ sobbed Valetta desperately and incoherently.

’Certainly no one who knows nothing about the matter.  There is nothing papa and I dislike much more than such foolish talk; and to tease your sister about it is even worse; but I will say no more about that, as I believe it was chiefly Wilfred’s doing.’

‘I—–­told—–­Will,’ murmured Valetta.  ’Mysie begged me not, but I had done it.’

’How much you would have saved yourself and everybody else if you had let the foolish word die with you!  Now, good-night, my dear.  Bathe your eyes well, or they will be very uncomfortable to-morrow; and do try to cure yourself of roaring when you cry.  It vexes papa so much more.’

Another small scene had to follow with the boy, who was quite willing to go off to bed, having no desire to face his father again, though his mother had her fears that he was not particularly penitent for ‘what fellows always did when people were spooning.’  He could only be assured that he would experience unpleasant consequences if he recurred to the practice; but Wilfred had always been the problem in the family.

The summer twilight was just darkening completely, and Lady Merrifield had returned to the drawing-room, and was about to ring for lights, when Sir Jasper came in through the window, saying—–­

’No question now about renewal.  Angelic features, more than angelic calmness and dignity.  Ha! you there, young ladies!’ he added in some dismay as two white dresses struck his eye.

‘There’s no harm done,’ said Lady Merrifield, laughing.  ’I was thinking whether to relieve Gillian’s mind by telling her the state of the case, and Mysie is to be trusted.’

‘Oh, mamma, then it is Kalliope!’ exclaimed Gillian, already relieved, for even love could not have perceived calmness and dignity in her sitting upon Bruno’s head.

‘Has she ever talked about him?’ asked Lady Merrifield.

’No; except to-day, when I said I hoped she was safe from him on that road.  She said he had always been very kind to her, and taught her to draw when she was quite a little girl.’

‘Just so,’ said Lady Merrifield.  ’Well, when she was a little older, poor Mr. White, who was one of the most honourable and scrupulous of men, took alarm, and saw that it would never do to have the young officers running after her.’

‘It was an uncommonly awkward position,’ added Sir Jasper, ’with such a remarkable-looking girl, and a foolish unmanageable mother.  It made poor White’s retirement the more reasonable when the girl was growing too old to be kept at school any longer.’