"Oh, we are quite agreed on that," he returned. "It would never do at all; in fact it's quite impossible."
"That she's been married dozens of times already."
"I don't think I can subscribe to more than half a dozen. But Miss Arminster certainly does seem to have a fondness for that sort of thing."
"And in the face of such scandalous proceedings do you consider her a fit person to marry your poor misguided father?"
"I've told you I don't approve," he said, and added: "How did you come to know about Miss Arminster's marriages?"
"He's a mischief-maker of the first water."
"Do not let us waste time in discussing his character. The important question is, what are we to do about your father's marriage?"
"No, no; leave it to me," he said. "I'll undertake to settle the matter. If you saw the Bishop, you'd only irritate him."
"He told me to go to bed, last night, after that woman had insulted me."
"Insulted you? I thought you told me she'd nothing to say for herself."
"Her presence was an insult, and one of us leaves this house to-day," replied his aunt, and swept out of the room.
Cecil gulped down his tea, and, ringing the bell, sent an urgent message to Miss Arminster, requesting a meeting in his aunt's boudoir, which, considering the purpose of the interview, he was sure Miss Matilda would not object to put at her disposal.
Violet received him in about twenty minutes, apologising for her charming tea-gown, on the ground of being somewhat seedy.
"Our supper last night was rather extraordinary, you know," she said.
"I've only heard one version," he replied.
"I fancy it was lurid enough," she went on; "but your good father's out of leading-strings this time, and no mistake."
"Tell me all about it," he said. "I'm most anxious to know."
"Of course you are," she returned. "So here goes."
Banborough enjoyed the recital immensely, and laughed immoderately at certain passages.
"So the governor knows all about our adventures?" he said, when she had finished. "Did he seem much upset?"
"Only about not recognising you when you blacked his eye under the bar."
"What a good old chap he is! Just think of his coming all that way to hunt me up! I wish he could have some fun out of life."
"We must try and help him to do so," she said.