Breathlessly he hurried on: 'Immense unexpected pressure of work, you know—now that we've forced the Liberals to appeal to the country——'
He stopped as the sound of light steps came flying through the lobby, and a young girl rushed into the hall calling out gaily—
'Aunt Ellen! Here I——'
She stopped precipitately, and her outstretched arms fell to her sides. A radiant, gracious figure, she stood poised an instant, the light of gladness in her eyes only partially dimmed by the horrid spectacle of an interloper in the person of a strange young man.
'My darling Jean!'
Lady John went forward and kissed her at the moment that the master of the house came hurrying in from the garden with a cheerful—
'I thought that was you running up the avenue!'
'Uncle, dear!'
The pretty vision greeted him with the air of a privileged child of the house, interrupting only for an instant the babel of cross-purpose explanation about carriages and trains.