Page:The council of seven.djvu/130

 But I am perhaps a bit sensitive on the subject, because you see I happen to have Scotch blood myself."

The trap was laid with skill and masked with cunning. At any rate Lady Elizabeth walked right in. "My mother's mother was a Sholto of Bannocksyde." The proud old woman had an entirely misleading air of stating a fact of really very little importance.

Helen, too, could be adept with the pride that knows how to ape humility. She was content to offer a little mild surprise, and that was all. Everything, so far, was according to plan. She was quite aware that John's great grandmother was a Sholto of Bannocksyde, but Lady Elizabeth was not aware that the Sholtos of Virginia were a cadet branch of the same ancient line. With becoming modesty, Helen now revealed this interesting fact.

Lady Elizabeth proceeded at once to "sit up and take notice." It was as if her guest had suddenly "come alive." Helen could not resist a smile. A strange land, this England! her impious thought.

"Tell me, my dear," A new note had entered the raven voice of the old Die-hard. "Tell me, did your people go over with Columbus?"

"I forget the year Columbus sailed," said Helen demurely. "We went over, I believe, in 1680."

"Burke will tell us," said Lady Elizabeth with simple faith.

On that point, Burke was hardly so clear as John's mother expected. Helen was able to convince her, all