"Have you succeeded in finding a boy to replace Brindlebury?"
The butler's face cleared.
"Oh, yes, I believe I have—not a boy, exactly, quite an elderly man, but one who promises to do, sir."
"Good." Crane turned away, but the man followed him.
"Miss Falkener asked me to tell you when you came in, sir, that she would be glad of a word with you. She's in your office."
Crane stood absolutely still for a second or two, and as he stood, his jaw slowly set, as he took a resolution. Then he opened the door of his office and went in.
Two personalities sometimes advance to a meeting with intentions as opposite as those of two trains on a single track. Crane and Cora were both too much absorbed in their own aims to observe the signals of the other.
"Cora," began Crane, with all the solemnity of which the two syllables were capable.
"Oh, Burton," cried the girl, "why did you leave Mr. Eliot's like that? It has worried me so much. Did anything happen to annoy you? What was it?"
"I sent the car right back for you."