“God bless my soul!” exclaimed the General. “I remember him now. We made his acquaintance at Interlaken, but his name had slipped from my memory. And that’s his wife? Fine girl, too. I must speak to him.” And full of kindly intent he bustled off and shook John warmly by the hand.
“My dear Ashforth, delighted to meet you again, and under such delightful conditions, too! Ah, well, it only comes once in a lifetime, does it?—in your case anyhow, I hope. I see Dora has introduced herself. You must present me. When was it?”
Portions of this address puzzled John considerably, but he thought it best to do as he was told.
“Mary,” he said, “let me introduce General Bellairs—Miss Bellairs’s father—to you. General Bell—”
The General interrupted him by addressing Mary with much, effusion.
“Delighted to meet you. Ah, you know our young friend Ellerton? Everybody does, it seems to me. Come, you must join us. Waiter, two more places. Lady Deane, let me introduce Mr. Ashforth. They’re on their——”
He paused. An inarticulate sound had proceeded from Mary’s lips.
“Beg pardon?” said the General.
A pin might have been heard to drop, while Mary, recovering herself, said coldly:
“I think there’s some mistake. I’m not Mrs. Ashforth.”