There was no mistaking the eagerness in his voice. It betrayed itself in the very stammer with which he proceeded.
"I didn't know she would come, but if Dolly's to manage the school treat this year, and if Dolly's to take the club, they won't want Georgiana. Tell her we can't possibly get the house put to rights without her. Say whatever you think will bring her. Only make her come."
He got up and fetched his writing things from the study. Mrs. Cockburn had to write the invitation then and there, almost to his dictation.
"Tell her she must come!" he cried impetuously, rushing away to look for a stamp, and then riding in with the letter himself to catch the early post. Mrs. Cockburn looked after him amused, but just a little bit disappointed.
"It's Georgiana then, after all," she said.
* * * * * *
Three days later Georgiana was installed at Little Easter.
She arrived with rather too many clothes for a person who was to help in getting a house in order, but that did not prevent her from buckling to. Mrs. Cockburn, a kind old lady with a twinkle of humour to comfort her in her trials, was taken aback by her visitor's authoritative grasp at the reins; but Freddy, having suffered more nearly from her tyrannical ways, thought he had never known her so gracious. In fact, he repented himself of the hard things he had been thinking—of all but a certain determination.
"I don't believe she hates me really," he thought. "It was only that she didn't want me to marry Dolly."
He made that reflection whilst shaving with care the morning after her arrival. On coming down to breakfast he found her at her post. She had already whisked away half the litter that was hampering the breakfast-room, and was making the tea. As he came in she nodded.