"A very expensive toy!" she repeated sternly.
John sighed.
"True, madam-true." Then with a brightened air: "Perhaps Mr. Everard has expensive tastes?"
"It is very possible. And I think that Mr. Everard must have been more than a simple country gentleman to indulge those tastes."
Carstares bit his lip to hide a smile at the thought of Tracy in the light of a simple country gentleman, and shook his head sadly.
"Do you infer that he came by this sword dishonestly, madam?"
The dimple quivered and was gone.
"Sir, I believe that you are playing with me," she said with great dignity.
"Madam, I am abashed."
"I am very glad to hear it, then. I infer that Mr. Everard was something more than he pretended to be."
"In truth, a sorry rogue to deceive a lady."
"And I want to know if I am right. Is he, perhaps, some grand gentleman?"
"I can assure you, madam, that there is very little of the gentleman about Mr. Everard."
Miss Betty began to laugh.
"Have done, my dear! 'Tis of no avail, and 'tis impolite to press Mr. Carr too hard."
Diana pouted.
"He is monstrous provoking, I think," she said, and eyed him reproachfully.
"I am desolated," mourned Jack, but his eyes danced.
"And now you are laughing!"
"But then, mademoiselle, so are you!"
She shook her head, resolutely repressing the dimple.
"Then I am inconsolable."
The brown eyes sparkled and her lips parted in spite of her efforts to keep them in a stern line.
"Oh, but you are ridiculous!" she cried, and sprang to her feet. "And here is Sir Miles!"
O'Hara came across the lawn towards them, bowed to the ladies, and glanced inquiringly from one to the other.
"Is it a joke ye have?" he asked.
Diana answered him.
"Indeed no, sir. 'Tis Mr. Carr who is so provoking."
"Provoking, is it? And what has he been doing?"
"I'll tell you the whole truth, Miles," interposed the maligned one. "'Tis Mistress Diana who is so inquisitive!"
"Oh!" Diana blushed furiously "I protest you are unkind, sir!"
"Sure, 'tis no gentleman he is, at all!"
"'Twas on the subject of gentlemen that we-"
"Quarrelled," supplied her aunt.
"Disagreed," amended his lordship.
"Disagreed," nodded Diana. "I asked him whether Mr. Everard was not some grand gentleman, and he evaded the point."
"I vow 'tis slander!" cried Jack. "I merely said that Everard was no gentleman at all."
"There! And was not that evading the point, Sir Miles?"
"Was it? Sure, I'm inclined to agree with him."
"I declare you are both in league against me!" she cried, with greater truth than she knew. "I mean, was he perhaps a titled gentleman?"