"I suppose you haven't met Mr. Coventry yet?" she demanded.
For an instant Mrs. Hilyard looked startled. Then she shook her head.
"Mr. Coventry? No. Is he an important person in the neighbourhood?"
"He's my chief," volunteered Robin. "Heronsmere Belongs to him."
"I'm afraid I don't even know where Heronsmere is," submitted Mrs. Hilyard
deprecatingly. "I'm quite ignorant about my neighbours, so far."
"Silverquay is part of the Heronsmere property," responded Miss Caroline.
"But the house itself is not far from the Priory. The Coventrys have lived
there for generations," she added proudly. "They're immensely wealthy."
With the last words an expression of something that looked like relief
flitted across Mrs. Hilyard's face.
"How interesting!" she said, infusing just the right amount of cordiality
into her voice. "And are there any children? I'm fond of kiddies."
"Children? Oh, no. Mr. Coventry isn't married. Nor was the last owner."
Miss Caroline warmed to her subject. "It's funny there should be two
bachelor owners in succession, isn't it? Rackham Coventry died unmarried,
and both his younger brothers were killed--one at sea and the other in a
railway accident.
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