would be made later on they were at a table which was only used when they were alone it was a round table set near to the open window on occasions when they had a large party they and dined at the long table which occupied the whole centre of the room and this smaller one was used as a side table by the servants the arrangement of plants margaret s face from and as she was not at any time a very great her escaped bis notice just as they finished lunch asked her carelessly if she had been through the rooms oh yes said margaret you thought they looked all right said carelessly very nice indeed said margaret more especially the one which was with the lilies a woman now as a matter of fact was not sure what lilies were of she had chosen those particular flowers because they happened to be in great beauty so she did not farther continue the subject and margaret went to dress for her drive without any further allusion to the work of the morning the first of guests did not reach until time for a late supper they had all travelled together from london mrs mr and mrs and my dear margaret said mrs as soon as she stepped over the threshold i never felt such a short way from london in my life before what a wonderful thing it is to have good company we have had the journey up and the dinner on the road and i have won nineteen shillings at all the same t am afraid prince that it was you who lost it but i was the said in his most manner then bowed very low indeed to margaret madame he said i am charmed to see you again welcome to said margaret holding out her hand yes a thousand to added approaching them at that moment i am glad to see you here my dear fellow you are heartily welcome and i hope that you didn t dine so well in the train that you are not able to eat some supper now you have got here oh my dear we are all ready to eat three we are all ready to eat you out of house and home we are ready for anything i feel as if i could almost eat you well i hope nobody else feels like that said looking round with a smile not you perhaps said with an emphasis upon the but others laughed ah that is very good that is very good said nothing he did not even smile but he looked at and margaret made haste to say that supper would be ready in a quarter of an hour and to beg them all to go and brush off a little of the dust of the journey you will not change or anything of that kind she said well if you will excuse us said mrs take care for one certainly will not my usual room margaret my dear yes your usual room but they are waiting to show you all which are your quarters and don t be longer than a quarter of an hour please they all made such good haste that by the time a quarter of an hour had gone by they were seated round a supper table in the place of honour on margaret s right hand as was quite on the other side of the table and out of hearing he presently spoke to her in german he said have i to thank you for the welcome which i found upstairs or shall i put it for the remembrance not at all said margaret very stiffly i don t arrange the flowers does that whether her choice was or accidental i cannot say but you will have to be very careful during the next fortnight for more than something of the past oh nonsense said he how could she possibly know anything about it i wish you had not come said margaret i did my best to prevent asking you but it was no use however for my sake i you to be very careful in every word that you utter in every look that you give me if the past came out my life would be over i will be discretion itself said earnestly now from that moment it must be confessed that had a very busy and somewhat anxious time in the place she had to perform regularly those small duties which had fallen to her share when she became a permanent member of the household then she had to occupy a good deal of time in making herself appear to the best advantage she had naturally to enjoy herself as much as she could which was a good deal and to keep an eager and anxious eye upon the movements of her cousin s wife and prince at first there seemed to be very little to find out and margaret were guarded in the extreme he paid her the attentions which he would have paid to any hostess but neither by word nor look did he let slip any hint of that dark story of the past it happened when they had been three days at a woman house that during breakfast remarked on the fact that the post was late they were indeed half the meal before wood brought in the post bag with the information that there had been a break down on the line which was the reason of the being behind time a serious accident wood asked t think not sir only a break down nobody killed or hurt i am glad of that said and the others at the table also gave a murmur of satisfaction mrs � mrs � mrs went on rapidly turning over the contents of the bag mrs � mrs � nineteen for you margaret oh not really nineteen 