"I'm here as Coventry's
agent, and my employer's private affairs are no concern of mine."
There was just a suspicion of the "elder brother" in his manner--only a
suspicion, but it was quite sufficient to arouse all the latent contrariety
of woman which Ann possessed.
"Well, Mrs. Hilyard isn't your employer," she retorted. "So I've a perfect
right to feel interested in her."
"But not in her relation to Mr. Coventry," maintained Robin seriously.
The corners of Ann's mouth curled up in a mutinous smile, and her eyes
danced.
"My dear Robin, you can't insulate a woman as you can an electric wire--at
least, not if she has any pretensions to good looks."
"No, I suppose you can't," he admitted, smiling back unwillingly. "More's
the pity, sometimes!"
There, for the moment, the subject dropped, but the imp of mischief still
flickered defiantly in the golden-brown eyes, and when, after dinner was
over, Maria brought in the coffee, Ann threw out a tentative remark which
instantly achieved its nefarious purpose of loosening the springs of
Maria's garrulity.
"They be telling up a tale in the village about the new lady as has taken
the Priory," began Maria conversationally.
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