With years Ellen's temper did not become less difficult; but Joan was at a loss to account for its present manifestation.
"Of course you are," she murmured soothingly. "But I don't believe you've seen the lovely present he's brought you all the way from—Shanghai, is it, this time?"
Ellen drew near, fascinated by the shimmering length of purple crêpe. "Silk! For me? Shucks, what would I be doin' with stuff like that? It's much too fine for the likes of me!"
"Nothing is too fine for the likes of you," replied Nikolai, with quiet sincerity.
"Why, you'll be perfectly grand in it, Nellen, with the Battenberg collar and cuffs!"
She muttered, mollified, "I don't know as a single woman ought to accept such things off a gentleman."
"It's all right if her chaperon says she may," reassured Joan, keeping a straight face.
But when the old woman had gone, she said to her friend, "I'm ashamed of her, Stefan! I can't think what gets into her cranky old head!"
"It is always so at first. I have to win her confidence afresh each time. I think the faithful soul regards me as a wolf menacing the safety of her sheepfold."
"That's because you are what she calls a 'for'ner.'"