Althea had a word to say before she let the subject drop.
"At the theatre you spoke of needing my help, Moritz. I hope you will let me know when my assistance is wanted."
"Oh, I was going to speak to you about that," he returned, quickly. "You see, my dear cousin, that there are circumstances in which a man is bound not to be selfish. Miss Mollie"--how his voice always softened as he said the name!--"is so simple and childlike; she knows so little of the world, and her life has been so retired, that I dare not hurry matters. She must learn to know and trust me before I can venture to make my meaning plain."
"Gwen quite agrees with me, but all the same I think--at least, I hope--that Monsieur Blackie's probation will soon be over, but Gwen and I have all our plans in readiness. What do you say to a picnic party at Brentwood about the middle of next month?"
"My dear Moritz, are you crazy? Really, an Idealist in love is a terrible being. A picnic in the middle of February! Do you want the three grim sisters, snow and hail and frost, to be among your guests?"
"Pshaw! nonsense!" he replied, impatiently. "There are lovely spring-like days in February. Besides, with the sort of picnic I mean, weather will not signify. You had better hear my programme first, Althea."
"Oh, go on," she returned, in a resigned voice. "I will try to forget my common-sense while I listen to you."
But he only twirled his moustache triumphantly.
"The party will be small and select; just you and the two Misses Ward and Gwen and myself."
"Noel! Oh, dear, no! My friend the humourist would be decidedly _de trop_. He is too acute and wide-awake a youth, and Monsieur Blackie would be found out in a moment."
"But I thought Lord Ralston was to be our host!" Althea spoke in a puzzled tone. Then Moritz patted her in a soothing manner.
"Keep calm, I entreat you," he said, gently. "In the presence of great thoughts we should always keep calm. Lord Ralston is my intimate friend, please understand that. We are like brothers, he and I, and it is for the corner of his picture-gallery, at Brentwood, that King Canute was bought; Miss Ward and her sister will be interested to see it again. And as Brentwood Hall, with its Silent Pool, is a show place--a picnic there will be the most natural thing in the world."