Lady Cantourne was rather thoughtful at that moment. She could not
help coming back and back to Sir John.
"Of course," she said to Jack, "we must let your father know at
once. The news must not reach him from an outside source."
Jack nodded.
"If it did," he said, "I do not think the 'outside source' would get
much satisfaction out of him."
"Probably not; but I was not thinking of the 'outside source' or the
outside effect. I was thinking of his feelings," replied Lady
Cantourne rather sharply. She had lately fallen into the habit of
not sparing Millicent very much; and that young lady, bright and
sweet and good-natured, had not failed to notice it. Indeed, she
had spoken of it to several people--to partners at dances and
others. She attributed it to approaching old age.
"I will write and tell him," said Jack quietly.
Lady Cantourne raised her eyebrows slightly, but made no spoken
comment.
"I think," she said, after a little pause, "that Millicent ought to
write too."
Millicent shuddered prettily. She was dimly conscious that her
handwriting--of an exaggerated size, executed with a special broad-
pointed pen purchasable in only one shop in Regent Street--was not
likely to meet with his approval. A letter written thus--two words
to a line--on note-paper that would have been vulgar had it not been
so very novel, was sure to incur prejudice before it was fully
unfolded by a stuffy, old-fashioned person.
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