“Your Grace!”

“Dear me, Tracy!” cried Lavinia, advancing. “What an unexpected visit!”

“I trust I have not arrived at an inopportune moment, my dear?”

“Oh, no!” she assured him. “I am quite charmed to see you! But at such an early hour⁠—! I confess, it quite astonishes me!” She brought him to a chair, chattering like a child, and so innocent was his expression, so smiling his attitude towards the Captain, that she imagined that he suspected nothing, and had not noticed her blushes.

It was only when Lovelace had departed that she was undeceived. Then, when his Grace moved to a chair opposite her, she saw that he was frowning slightly.

“You⁠—you are put out over something, Tracy?” she asked nervously.

The frown deepened.