“I want you to meet my friend, Mrs. Duncan, and one or two other good people.”
“Thank you very much, madam,” said Palma shyly.
“She will be glad to make friends among your friends, Mrs. Walling, for she is almost a stranger here,” added Stuart.
“Very well, then, to-morrow afternoon, at six o’clock,” concluded the lady, and she arose to take her leave.
Ran shook hands with his cousins and escorted Mrs. Walling back to her carriage, and would have bid her good-by at the door, but that the lady said:
“Come in here, Mr. Hay. I want to have more talk with you.”
Ran obeyed.
When they were seated and were well on their way along the avenue Mrs. Walling said:
“I have heard from our friends at the fort but once since your arrival, Mr. Hay! The letter of introduction you brought is the last, except a card, I have had from Mrs. Moseley, and never has so long an interval passed without hearing from her.”
“And you answered her last letter, dear madam?”