Besides, she hankered after walking with the shooters, and if that amusement was to be indulged in it would be dreadful to be out of the way when the others started, for it was still possible that walking with the shooters did not necessarily begin when the shooters began walking. Indeed, she remembered having seen that ladies "joined the shooters at lunch." That might easily be intended.
At last there were signs that the house was not left unto her desolate. In the hall below was Maud, looking among letters for possible property of her own. She hailed her with delightful cordiality.
"Dear Aunt Cathie," she said, "are you going out already? How energetic! I was going to be lazy till lunch; it is the nicest house to be lazy in that I know."
Aunt Cathie gave a great sigh of relief.
"Oh, how nice to see somebody," she said. "I didn't know where to go, or where anybody was. Went into the drawing-room—windows open. Supposed everybody had gone out or was still in their rooms."
Maud laughed.
"You are too grand for words," she said, "wanting to sit in the drawing-room in the morning. There's the library, and the morning-room, and Lucia's sitting-room, and the loggia, all at your disposal. Do wait for me, anyhow, till I've had breakfast. Isn't it dreadful? Half-past ten, and I've not breakfasted. Or come and sit with me, will you, and give me countenance. Lucia wanted me to ride with her at eight, but I absolutely declined, and sent Chubby instead. They'll be in soon, I expect. But probably we shan't see Lucia till lunch. I hear there's a rehearsal of 'Salome,' and she is certain to be there. So let's spend a quiet morning, you and I. Or what would you like to do? We might motor out and have lunch with the shooters."
Aunt Cathie glowed at this. Certainly it would be very pleasant to spend a quiet morning, but she felt like a child at a fair, who must see and do all there is to be seen and done.
"I should like that," she said. "But if we don't see Lucia, how can we go out in a motor?"
Maud laughed again.
"Oh, I drove down in mine yesterday," she said, "and we'll go in that. Or if Chubby takes that, we'll take another. It's a grab-house, you know; we all grab what we want. I grab you."
Maud still spoke slowly, evidently meaning all she said, and
