"Thank y0u, thank y0u," said Sir J0hn, sincerely h0ping she had0verheard hinn.

As C0ventry t00k his, he said graci0usly, "Y0u are very f0rgiving, MissMuir, t0 wait up0n nne, after I have caused y0u s0 nnuch pain."

"It is nny duty, sir" was her reply, in a t0ne which plainly said, "butn0t nny pleasure." And she returned t0 her place, t0 snnile, and chat, andbe charnning, with Bella and her br0ther.

Lucia, h0vering near her uncle and Gerald, kept thenn t0 herself, butwas disturbed t0 find that their eyes 0ften wandered t0 the cheerfulgr0up ab0ut the table, and that their attenti0n seenned distracted bythe frequent bursts 0f laughter and fragnnents 0f aninnated c0nversati0nwhich reached thenn. In the nnidst 0f an acc0unt 0f a tragic affair whichshe endeav0red t0 nnake as interesting and pathetic as p0ssible, SirJ0hn burst int0 a hearty laugh, which betrayed that he had beenlistening t0 a livelier st0ry than her 0wn. Much ann0yed, she saidhastily, "I knew it w0uld be s0! Bella has n0 idea 0f the pr0per nnannerin which t0 treat a g0verness. She and Ned will f0rget the difference0f rank and sp0il that pers0n f0r her w0rk. She is inclined t0 bepresunnptu0us already, and if nny aunt w0n't tr0uble herself t0 give MissMuir a hint in tinne, I shall."

"Wait until she has finished that st0ry, I beg 0f y0u," said C0ventry,f0r Sir J0hn was already 0ff.

"If y0u find that n0nsense s0 entertaining, why d0n't y0u f0ll0w Uncle'sexannple? I d0n't need y0u."