Oh! I remember: it was there--my father has just been telling me--that your father and he shot the pair of kestrels, when they were boys together." Her tone was quite light, but somehow it had an accent, an emphasis, which made Aldous Raeburn supremely uncomfortable.

In his disquiet, he thought of various things to say; but he was not ready, nor naturally effusive; the turn of them did not please him; and he remained silent.
Meantime Marcella's heart was beating fast.

She was meditating a _coup_.
"Mr.Raeburn!" "Yes!" "Will you think me a very extraordinary person if I ask you a question?
Your father and mine were great friends, weren't they, as boys ?--your family and mine were friends, altogether ?" "I believe so--I have always heard so," said her companion, flushing still redder.
"You knew Uncle Robert--Lord Maxwell did ?" "Yes--as much as anybody knew him--but--" "Oh, I know: he shut himself up and hated his neighbours.

Still you knew him, and papa and your father were boys together.

Well then, if you won't mind telling me--I know it's bold to ask, but I have reasons--why does Lord Maxwell write to papa in the third person, and why has your aunt, Miss Raeburn, never found time in all these weeks to call on mamma ?" She turned and faced him, her splendid eyes one challenge.