“I was quite glad when my uncle proposed to come here to-day, Miss Churchill,” he said; “I wanted to see your pretty home.”
“You are very welcome,” answered the Mayflower, with such a charming grace of manner that John Temple could not help wondering where she could possibly have acquired it.
“You must show me your fernery,” he continued; “and,” he added hastily, for they were now nearing the house, “will you come one day to Fern Dene, and let me try to find some rare ones for you? Will you come to-day—this afternoon?”
May blushed to her pretty white brow.
“This afternoon?” she repeated with hesitation.
“Yes, why not? It is fine; promise to come?”
“Very well,” said May, and as she spoke her father turned round and addressed her.
“May, my dear,” he said, “give me the cellar keys.”
“At three o’clock,” remarked John Temple in a low tone, but May had heard the words.
She hurriedly entered the flower-festooned porch of the house, which opened into a long low hall with windows on either side of the door, which also were filled with flowers.