Page:The Specimen Case.djvu/208

Rh "No. From a place—a place on the river."

"Not about here, though?" persisted the lady. "One might as well be on Juan Fernandez for any chance of hearing of a girl locally. If they don't go into town their ambition centres on Richmond—the Terrace, you know," with a shrug and a glance.

"No, some distance from here," replied Mrs. Bartlett briefly. "Do you care for croquet?"

It was possible to be discouraging towards the casual friend, but that same evening Mrs. Bartlett's brother, who was staying at the cottage, leaned across the table and with an elaborate affectation of the late visitor's manner, remarked tentatively:

"Let me see: where did you say she came from, dear?"

"I did not say," replied the lady with a laugh. "But it is called Tidal Basin, if you wish to know, Flip."

"Good," remarked Philip with an air of appreciation. "This sister of mine improves since she moved into your family, Tom. 'A place on the river'; 'Some distance from here'—true; but what about the County Council School, She-bee?"

Accomplishments, corrected Phœbe. "She came with no accomplishments. Surely a week has shown you that."

"Accomplishments!" said Tom, looking up from his book. "Do you know, Philip, we actually saw an advertisement in one of the papers recently, 'General servant would like to meet accomplished Frenchman in evenings for mutual improvement in scientific conversation.

"Yes, dear," interposed Phœbe. "Only unfortunately for the instance the advertisement was repeated and the first two words then appeared as 'German savant.

"Worse things happen in Fleet Street," said Philip. “But I don't know about your Gwendolin Maud having