Jean nodded.
Upstairs they found Herrick. Pat's first impression was very much what Jean's had been the day Herrick had walked into the library and found her sniffing the grass. Of a big man, strong but rather lazy, with something frank and winning and clean about him, and nice eyes. And the next was surprise that he was so different from what she had pictured he would be, and that never would she have picked him out as the man Jean would marry.
"This is Pat."
Herrick came forward and they shook hands heartily.
"I am awfully glad. I've heard of you, you know, until I was almost jealous. When did you get in?"
"About half an hour before I 'phoned you," Jean answered.
Herrick turned to Jean.
"I wondered what the wonderful surprise was. I never could have guessed it."
Pat felt something in him change, but before she could be sure, he was talking pleasantly again.
Herrick went out and brought in things for dinner and they all cooked together. Pat and Jean did most of the talking but Herrick seemed to enjoy their reminiscences. From time to time, however, Pat caught a heaviness in his eyes as they rested on Jean, and she decided that there had been some slight quarrel before her arrival and that Herrick had not been able to forget it. In spite of his gentle manner and kind eyes, he might bear a grudge a long while.