"Perfectly," smiled Virginia. "He took good care of us."
Turning to Fanny, he said:
"This, I presume, is your sister—"
Virginia hastened to make introductions:
"Fanny," she said, "let me introduce Mr. Stafford."
The host bowed and smiled pleasantly, while Fanny, embarrassed, not knowing whether to offer her hand, felt awkward and ill at ease, as do most people who, going seldom into society, are not in constant practice with its civilities.
"I'm very pleased, indeed, to meet you, Miss Blaine," said Stafford, bowing.
"And this," went on Virginia, turning to her brother-in-law elect, who stood gaping in the background, "is Mr. Gillie—just 'Jimmie' we call him, don't we, Fanny?"
"Yes—Jimmie—of course," stammered Fanny, blushing furiously.
Stafford held out his hand and gave the shipping clerk a grip that made him wince.