My brother heard yesterday that the relief had been effected." Millicent smiled again in her light-hearted way.
"That is all right," she said.

"What a good thing we did not know! Just think, auntie dear, what a lot of anxiety we have been spared!" "In the height of the season, too!" said Jocelyn.
"Ye--es," replied Millicent, rather doubtfully.
Lady Cantourne was puzzled.

There was something going on which she did not understand.

Within the sound of the pleasant conversation there was the cliquetis of the foil; behind the polite smile there was the gleam of steel.

She was rather relieved to turn at this moment and see Sir John Meredith entering the room with his usual courtly bow.