What did he mean? Lady Janet determined to find out.
"I hate all mysteries," she said to Julian. "And as for secrets,
I consider them to be one of the forms of ill-breeding. People in
our rank of life ought to be above whispering in corners. If you
_must_ have your mystery, I can offer you a corner in the
library. Come with me."
Julian followed his aunt very reluctantly. Whatever the mystery
might be, he was plainly embarrassed by being called upon to
reveal it at a moment's notice. Lady Janet settled herself in her
chair, prepared to question and cross-question her nephew, when
an obstacle appeared at the other end of the library, in the
shape of a man-servant with a message. One of Lady Janet's
neighbors had called by appointment to take her to the meeting of
a certain committee which assembled that day. The servant
announced that the neighbor--an elderly lady--was then waiting in
her carriage at the door.
Lady Janet's ready invention set the obstacle aside without a
moment's delay. She directed the servant to show her visitor into
the drawing-room, and to say that she was unexpectedly engaged,
but that Miss Roseberry would see the lady immediately.
Pages:
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133