"——Being a good speaker," interpolated Miss Sandiloe.
"——And in an official position, so to speak—and a friend of Miss Easter's," said Miss Farmer, also in parentheses.
Cooper shot a repressive glance left and right. "I am just telling Lady Rossiter. The obvious person, of course, Lady Rossiter, has been approached. Miss Marchrose has kindly agreed to make the presentation on behalf of the staff."
XII
It was left to Sir Julian, as not infrequently happened, to look upon the varied assortment of flotsam and jetsam thrown up by the tide of Lady Rossiter's eloquence.
Whilst Edna sat indoors, rather limply endeavouring to maintain a high level of sympathetic brightness round the exhausted subject of Miss Easter's projected wedding-present, Julian, having ascertained the presence of his three guests indoors, hastily walked out of the house.
He sought his habitual refuge—the long, deserted stretch of shore skirted by a pebbly ridge, locally known as the sea-wall.
There he found Miss Marchrose.
If Julian had counted upon finding the foam-flecked, windy spot in its usual state of solitude, he gave no sign of being disconcerted.
They exchanged greetings and prepared to walk the mile length of the sea-wall together. In spite of the strength of the salt wind blowing full against them, the blue knitted cap that she wore needed no restraining hand, and she was restfully free from fluttering ends and tags of garments.