"Your own interests are seriously concerned," he whispered, "in something that I have to tell you." Incapable of hearing what passed between them, Mrs.Presty could see that a secret understanding united her son-in-law and the governess.

She looked round cautiously at Mrs.Linley.
Kitty's humor had changed; she was now eager to see the doll's splendid clothes taken off and put on again.

"Come and look at it," she said to Sydney; "I want you to enjoy my birthday as much as I do." Left by himself, Randal got rid of the parasol by putting it on a table near the door.

Mrs.Presty beckoned to him to join her at the further end of the room.
"I want you to do me a favor," she began.
Glancing at Linley before she proceeded, Mrs.Presty took up a newspaper, and affected to be consulting Randal's opinion on a passage which had attracted her attention.

"Your brother is looking our way," she whispered: "he mustn't suspect that there is a secret between us." False pretenses of any kind invariably irritated Randal.