"Agneta, what are you doing here? Was it you that rascal came to meet?"
Agneta was dumbfounded. When she tried to speak utterance failed her. Her lips quivered helplessly and she burst into tears. The speaker looked at her with more exasperation than compassion in his glance. His eyes fell on me, and he said with an air of extreme irritation:
"Perhaps you will kindly explain what brings my daughter to town at this hour. You seem to be her companion."
I had not seen my uncle since I was a child, and till he spoke thus I failed to recognise him. He was the last person I expected to meet just then. Deliverance had come from the most unexpected quarter; but thankful I was that it had come.
"I am her cousin, Annie Darracott," I said simply.
"Oh, really! And you think it right to assist her to meet that scoundrel," he said huskily. "So this is how Mrs. Lucas discharges her responsibility! I see I made a mistake in committing my daughter to her care."
"You make a very great mistake now," I replied; "my aunt knows nothing of our being here."
"The more shame to you," he responded severely; "but now, please take my daughter into the waiting-room while I look after that scoundrel."
I was only too glad to obey, for Agneta had lost all control of herself and was sobbing hysterically, and I felt like crying myself, though I was determined I would not give way.
Ralph Marshman had not waited to be interviewed by an indignant parent. Mr. Redmayne came back after a futile search for him. By that time I had procured a glass of water for Agneta and she was a little calmer.