"I--I'm afraid----" she began, and stopped in
hesitation.

"Did he specifically include me?" demanded the
Countess in an altered tone.

"I think, mamma, he did," her daughter faltered.

"Ah!"

And there was a world of meaning in that comment.

"Believe me, mamma, it is something very, very
important, or Rudolph would certainly have let me tell
you all about it."

Lady Grillyer opened her eyes still wider.

"Then I am to understand that he wishes to conceal
from me anything that he considers of importance?"

"Oh, no! Not that! I only mean that this thing
is very secret."

"Alicia," pronounced the Countess, "when a man
specifically conceals anything from his mother-in-law,
you may be quite certain that she ought to be informed
of it at once."

"I--I can't, mamma!"