"Ida Merritt did most of the arguing."
"Did she? What a very intelligent girl she is, by the way. I confess I took a great fancy to her."
"You told mother once that she frightened you."
"Ah, but I'm always frightened by people when I meet them first. Though curiously enough I was never frightened of you. Some people have told me that I am frightening at first. You didn't find that did you?"
"No, I certainly did not. And I can't imagine anybody else's doing so either."
Although John rather plumed himself upon the alarm he was credited with inspiring at first sight, he did not argue the point, because he really never had had the least desire to frighten his secretary.
"And your relations don't seem to find you very frightening," she murmured. "Good gracious, what an assemblage!"
The dog-cart had just drawn clear of the beechwood, and the whole of the Ambles party could be seen vigilantly grouped by the gate to receive them, which John thought was a lapse of taste on the part of his guests. Nor was he mollified by the way in which after the introductions were made Hugh took it upon himself to conduct Miss Hamilton indoors, while he was left shouting for William the groom. If it was anybody's business except his own to escort her into the house, it was Hilda's.
"What a very extraordinary thing," said John, fretfully, "that the only person who's wanted is not here. Where is that confounded boy?"
"I'm here," cried Bertram, responding to the epithet instinctively.