“She doesn’t want to see you, and she said we could talk to you and she wasn’t at home,” she answered.
“But she doesn’t know yet who it is,” objected Hugh.
“Yes she does,” said Muffie, “she sawed you coming up the path.”
“An’ she lushed out of the loom,” volunteered Max.
“Well,” said Hugh, “she’s got to see me, for it’s very important. Will you go to her room, Muffie, and say Mr. Kinross begs to see her as a special favour?”
“Oh,” said Muffie, “she isn’t in her room. When you say you’re not at home you go and stand out in the garden till the visitors go.”
“You don’t,” argued Lynn, “only Mrs. Merrick; but mother says ‘No,’ an’ she never does, an’ it just means ‘engaged,’ only it’s not so rude.”
“Well,” said Hugh desperately, “will you [p147] penetrate to the spot in the garden where Miss Bibby’s notions of honour may have taken her, Lynn, and say Mr. Kinross will be greatly obliged if she will see him for five minutes?”
“I really couldn’t,” said Lynn distressedly. “I’m very sorry, but I’m sure she wouldn’t like me to.”
“Very well,” said Hugh, “I shall simply go and find her myself,” and he pushed up the French window and stepped out into the garden.