“He needs to be sat on!” said Andrée, with a frown.
“I don’t believe you can do it!” said her mother, smiling.
“He is a thick-skinned little beast. He’s insufferable!”
“I don’t think so. He’s polite enough, if he’s treated politely.”
“But I’m not going to treat him politely.... There’s the train!”
They halted and stood watching, while the engine roared past them and stopped neatly at the proper spot, and the handful of passengers alighted.
“O Lord!” groaned Andrée. “Again!”
For she had seen the gaunt, ungainly form of Mr. MacGregor coming down the steps, bag in hand. He lifted his hat and came toward them.
“I am charged with a very unwelcome message, I’m afraid,” he said. “Mr. Vincelle is unable to get away this week, and he asked me to come down, and see if I could be of any service to the ladies!”
Oh, cowardly Gilbert! Claudine could have laughed at his infantile ruse. She welcomed Mr. MacGregor with cordiality and beckoned to Edna, who came, but who naughtily brought the little man with her.