They had so much to talk about. She even used some slang herself, though it sounded almost pretty coming from her lips.
Having disposed of that first moment of awkwardness, even of alarm, which the unexpected meeting with Broxbourne signified to her, she responded instantly to the excitement of the moment; her good temper was completely restored.
When they left the train, however, and Broxbourne had gone on ahead, she slipped her hand confidently for a moment in Mr. Haverford's arm.
"He is such a bore, isn't he?" she whispered. "I wonder why Agnes asked him? She said nothing to me about his coming. I have known him all my life, we are sort of cousins," she added; and then she laughed. "Well, after all, it is lucky Sir Samuel is here, for, do you know, we quite forgot to wire for a carriage? I only hope they have sent a big brougham."
"I am going to walk," Haverford said at once; but this she vetoed. In fact, she had no desire to drive tête-à-tête with the other man.
"Oh, please don't," she said. "I beg you will not leave me. And you must not forget I am in your charge to-day."
And Haverford had to yield to this argument as a matter of course.
The drive was not a pleasant one, however. They were rather crowded in the brougham.
Camilla laughed at this discomfort as she had laughed at all the rest, but her voice had a shrill tone; or perhaps Rupert Haverford noticed this for the first time.
As soon as they passed into the big hall, he left Mrs. Lancing and Sir Samuel chatting with the others and went to his room.