“You here?” she exclaimed, because she had fancied that there were reasons why he would not enjoy Mildred’s wedding.
“Yes,” he said affably, and sat down beside her.
As was mentioned before, he was good at talking, and his aunt and uncle were pleasantly beguiled, until the chiming of the clock in the belfry aroused Mr. Terhune.
“Time they were here,” he said, glancing about.
Dacier went on talking, but his aunt had grown restless. The little girl in spectacles had grown restless, too, and was wriggling.
“Fifteen minutes late!” said Mrs. Terhune. “It’s very odd, Robert! You’d better see if the clergyman is waiting.”
Dacier reported that the clergyman was waiting in the vestry, and growing a little impatient.
“It seems very strange!” said Mrs. Terhune.
Twenty minutes—twenty-five—half an hour. Then the clergyman came in, and, impressed by the appearance of Mr. Terhune, approached him.
“It’s somewhat awkward for me, as it happens,” he observed. “I have an important engagement for half past twelve. I was informed that the young man’s train arrived here shortly after ten, and that he would stop at Miss Henaberry’s house and bring her here at eleven; and my wife informed me that she saw a strange young man with two bags get off that train.”