ignorance,' said Lady Merrifield. 'She is an odd mixture of defiant
loyalty and self-defence.'

'What shall you do about this kind of talk?' asked her sister.

'One must hear it sooner or later,' said Harry.

'That is true,' returned his mother, 'but I suppose Fergus and Primrose
did not hear or understand.'

'Oh no, mamma. I know they did not, for they were squabbling because
Primrose wanted to turn over before Fergus had done with Gideon.'

'Then I don't think there is any harm done. If it comes before Mysie
or Val I will talk to them, and I mean to take this poor child alone
for a little while each day in the week and try to get at her.'

'There's another thing,' said Gillian. 'Is she to go down with me
always to Casement Cottages on Sunday afternoons when I take the
class?'

'To teach or to learn?' ironically exclaimed Aunt Jane.

'Neither,' said Gillian. 'To chatter to Constance Hacket. They both
spoke to me about it yesterday before I went home, and I believe
Constance has written a note to her to ask her today! Fancy, that
goose told me my sweet cousin was a dear, and that we didn't appreciate
her. Even Miss Hacket gave me quite a lecture on kindness and
consideration to an orphan stranger.'