Mr. and Mrs. Farraday were engaged in earnest conversation as the two girls opened the screen door and stepped into the dainty space within.
"Hello, Daddy, dearest," Peggy cried, flying to kiss him, "this is a darling, unexpected pleasure."
Mr. Farraday had a nice smile. He looked very much like his younger daughter.
"Ruth phoned me to come down," he said. "How's my son?"
"She's feeling a lot better, dear, since she knows you're in the house," Peggy flashed back. "I'm the only son he's got, you know."
"Your father and I were talking, dear," Mrs. Farraday's smooth tones intervened.
"Elizabeth and I only looked in to see Cook, in re a large cake she's been making."
Mrs. Farraday looked up. "Here comes Ruth and Mr. Chambers, so you may as well stay here. I've told Cook to serve that cake with our tea to-day."
"You have your good points, Mother," Peggy said, saucily.
Ruth threw up her small head as she came out of the house. She was very pale, Elizabeth noticed, and Mr. Chambers was very red. He was smiling, but Ruth's face was entirely grave.