“Kip is awfully pleased to see you,” he said, addressing me particularly.
“Yes, isn’t it nice of him?—and it is more than six months since we parted. He was once my property,” I added, looking over at my chaperon.
After this evidently unexpected announcement there was a significant pause, and some of the ladies exchanged glances.
“How did you leave them at Torrington?” inquired my neighbour.
“Oh, very well, thank you. They all came to see me off from London.”
“What steamer did you come out in?” demanded Mrs. Potter, but I pretended not to hear, and said:
“Dora is married, as I dare say you know, and Bev has decided to go into the Diplomatic Service.”
“Sorry for the Service,” muttered Captain Falkland.
“I wonder if you came out in the Modena?” persisted Mrs. Potter, who I could see was boiling over with questions, but Mrs. Soames, an efficient general, now rose and said:
“I promised to look for a book for Jimmy, and I had nearly forgotten it—something to do with military law—arrived in the last batch. Come along, Miss Lingard, and I will show you the library.”