Eric met his sister warmly, and Celia introduced Lulu to him and to Lawrence Puttenham.
"Will you have some ices?" Eric inquired, politely, looking from one girl to the other.
They both thanked him, but declined, saying they had been having tea; and as the boys had finished their ices, they all strolled out into the open air, where they were soon joined by the Misses Pring, Mr. Tillotson, and Mr. Cole.
Eric found an opportunity for a short conversation with his sister alone, and gave her an account of the doings of the inmates of the Moat House during her absence, including the story of Sir Jasper's generosity to the Crumleigh Cricket Club, to all of which Celia listened with the greatest interest.
"How is Joy getting on with Uncle Jasper?" she asked at length.
"Rather better," was the reply. "He asks her to play the piano to him every evening now."
Celia appeared very pleased, and her pretty face lit up with a bright smile as she exclaimed:
"Oh, that's right! I'm glad of that. Does Joy miss me much?"
"Don't know, I'm sure. She doesn't say. I say, Celia, your friend Lulu looks rather jolly."
"She is rather jolly," Celia agreed, with a laugh.