But when they reached Mayhew Street, at the farther end of which was Neville's present home, they were overtaken by Mr. Fanshaw himself. So there was no more opportunity for talking privately. And kind Mrs. Fanshaw had arranged a sight-seeing expedition in the afternoon for the two Powys children and two of the other boys. From this they did not get home till tea-time, and after tea there were games in the schoolroom, and then music in the drawing-room when Mr. and Mrs. Fanshaw and the elder boys came up from dinner. It was all very delightful, and Kathleen enjoyed it thoroughly. But it drove other thoughts out of her head, and gave her endless subject for chatter in the hansom on her way home. It was not till they drew up at Miss Eccles' gate that she suddenly remembered Neville's unfinished sentence.
'What was it you were going to say to me just when that cab came up, this morning?' she asked.
'I'll tell you the next time. It would take too long now. Perhaps it will never come to anything; perhaps you wouldn't like it if it did, and perhaps you'd be disappointed if it didn't. And it's best to say no more about it yet.'
And this oracular reply was all Kathie could extract from Neville before they had to bid each other good-night.
Philippa was a good deal disappointed the next day that Kathleen had no more to tell her.
'You promised to speak to your brother about looking for the paper,' she said.
'Yes; but what you said was no good. You should have planned with him about going there. It'll be too late soon; once your aunt has left the house you'd never have a chance of going there.'
'Oh, bother!' said Kathleen; 'I've no chance as it is. I don't believe it'll ever be found--the paper or the will either. It's no good thinking any more about it.'
'I think you're a very silly girl, and a very selfish one too,' she said. 'I'm sure if there was the least little tiniest bit of a chance of my finding any paper that would do _my_ papa and mamma any good, I'd--I'd--'
'What would you do, Miss Unselfish?' said Kathie teasingly.
'I'd run away and dress myself like a little servant so as to get into the house, or--or--anything,' said Philippa.
'And get put into prison for poking about among other people's things. That would be _very_ nice for papa and mamma! Your head's far too full of fanciful stories and rubbish!' said Kathleen.