by A. M. Williamson and C. N. Williamson

“ So, he had known of my activities, and had misunderstood my interest in Terry. Brighteners, alas, are being misunderstood!
“I'd forgotten,” I said primly, “that the women of the Scarlett family inherit the title if there's no son. That would account for a lot! So you don't think my theory of what's going on at Dun Moat is too melodramatic?”
“My experience is,” said Jim, “that nothing is ever quite so melodramatic as real life. I believe this Cecil girl must be a legitimate daughter of the chap who died in Australia. ”

“ But what beats me is this: why did the fly walk into the spider web? If the girl had comm sense, she must have seen she wouldn't be a welcome visitor, coming to turn her uncle out of home and title for himself and son! Yet you say she brought presents for the kid.”
“I wonder,” I thought aloud, “if she could have meant to suggest some friendly compromise? Maybe she'd heard a lot from her father about the wonderful old place. Grandmother said that Cecil Scarlett was so poor he lived in Australia like a laborer, although his father died while he was there and he inherited the title. ”

“ Suppose your mother has looked in your room! She'll know from Kram that the ladies are motoring, so she may come out to speak with Kram and ask for you. Squeeze into this clump of lilac bushes at the end of the terrace! Trust me to make everything right and come back soon.”
The picture of his mother on the warpath turned Bertie to a jelly. He was in the lilac bushes almost before I'd finished, and I hurried off, ostensibly to seek Kram. I did not, however, seek far or in any direction where she was likely to be. Presently I returned and in my turn plunged into the bushes. ”