But his aunt, who was a better general than he, out-manoeuvred him. He crept down the back stairs; but as he could not quite condescend to escape through the area, he was forced to emerge upon the hall, and here his aunt pounced upon him, coming out of the breakfast-parlour. "Did not Lucy tell you that I wanted to see you?" Lady Monk asked, with severity in her voice.
Burgo replied, with perfect ease, that he was going out just to have his hair washed and brushed. He would have been back in twenty minutes. There was no energy about the poor fellow, unless, perhaps, when he was hunting; but he possessed a readiness which enabled him to lie at a moment's notice with the most perfect ease. Lady Monk did not believe him; but she could not confute him, and therefore she let the lie pass.

But his aunt out-manuvred him. He crept down the back stairs; but he was forced to emerge into the hall, and here his aunt pounced upon him.
"Did not Lucy tell you that I wanted to see you?" Lady Monk asked severely.
Burgo replied, with perfect ease, that he was going out just to have his hair washed. He would have been back in twenty minutes. Lady Monk did not believe him; but she let it pass.
