Page:The Seven Dials Mystery (1929).pdf/18

"And that would be a pity," said MacDonald.

"Oh! of course," said Lady Coote. "It would."

And wondered why she agreed so fervently.

MacDonald looked at her very hard.

"Of course," he said, "if it's your orders, m'lady—" He left it like that. But his menacing tone was too much for Lady Coote. She capitulated at once.

"Oh! no," she said. "I see what you mean, MacDonald. N-no—William had better get on with the lower border."

"That's what I thocht meself, m'lady."

"Yes," said Lady Coote. "Yes. Certainly."

"I thocht you'd gree, m’lady," said MacDonald.

"Oh! certainly," said Lady Coote again.

MacDonald touched his hat and moved away.

Lady Coote sighed unhappily and looked after him. Jimmy Thesiger, replete with kidneys and bacon, stepped out on to the terrace beside her, and sighed in quite a different manner.

"Topping morning, eh?" he remarked.

"Is it?" said Lady Coote, absently. "Oh! yes, I suppose it is. I hadn’t noticed."

"Where are the others? Punting on the lake?"

"I expect so. I mean, I shouldn't wonder if they were." Lady Coote turned and plunged abruptly into the house again. Tredwell was just examining the coffee pot.

"Oh, dear," said Lady Coote. "Isn't Mr.— Mr—" “Wade, m’lady?”