what a relief it would be to you, and it seems to me such an unheard-of
thing for a young girl like that to be living practically alone!'

'We've been through that before, Janet. Remember, there was nothing else
to do unless she continued to live with us. And as your nerves can't
even stand Ella--'

Lady Cannon dropped the point.

'Well, we must get her married,' she said again. 'What a good thing Ella
is still so young! Girls are a dreadful responsibility,' and she swept
graciously from the dining-room.

Sir Charles took out an irritating little notebook of red leather, the
sort of thing that is advertised when lost as 'of no value to anyone but
the owner.' It was full of mysterious little marks and unintelligible
little notes. He put down, in cabalistic signs, '_Hyacinth's dinner,
eight o'clock._' He enjoyed writing her name, even in hieroglyphics.




CHAPTER V


A Proposal


'I say, Eugenia.'