"Peter thought it the most natural thing in the world to wish to be with Tom's relations."
"You haven't told him about the prince?"
"I have been entirely loyal to you—with Peter. Don't be afraid. He, too, adores you."
They walked on in silence. At the house they found grannie, now in her afternoon muslin, cheerfully ready for a new guest, and Peter in extreme delight at seeing him.
Markham MacLeod, once in his own room, sat down and stretched his legs before him. As he ruminated, his face fell into lines. Nobody ever saw them,—even he,—because in public, and before his glass, he had a way of plumping himself into cheerfulness. His tortuous thoughts were for his inmost mind. Whatever he planned, no one knew he was planning; only his results came to him in the eye of the world.
XVII
After supper, which had been, grannie thought, a brilliant occasion, MacLeod took his hat and said to Peter, with an air of proposing the simplest possible thing,—
"I am going over to pay my respects to your neighbor."
Peter stared frankly.