Tor was more and more convinced that he had known this guest of his before, although he failed to recall the name. Voice, manner, and expression all seemed in a manner familiar, and left an impression upon his mind that he had liked as well as known the Signor at some distant date.
When the ladies returned, the men joined them at their tea, and Maud seemed much struck by the handsome Italian, and made so much of him that Tor was half inclined to feel jealous. Although he could not speak it, Signor Pagliadini understood English very fairly, and seemed pleased and flattered by the way in which she chattered away to him.
When he had gone, she had a great deal to say about his handsome eyes, and soft voice, and courtly manners. Tor was somewhat silent and absent; but she did not seem to observe it, and was rather startled by the sudden way in which he changed the subject.
‘Maud,’ he said, ‘do you think you and Aunt Olive would mind very much if I were to bring some lady-visitors to Ladywell?’
‘Lady-visitors!’ echoed Maud. ‘Why, Phil, what an odd suggestion from a confirmed old bachelor like you! Of course we shall be delighted—we always are delighted to do your bidding. But who are they? and why do you want them?’
‘They are Miss Marjory Descartes and her niece, whose name I forget; but I think I must include her. I like Miss Marjory immensely, as you know; and I feel inclined to ask her to come and spend a week here, before she has time to forget the favourable impression I produced upon her in Whitbury.’
‘Yes, dear boy, have her by all means. I wish you joy,’ answered Maud sweetly and slily. ‘But, Phil dear, don’t you think she’s just a little bit old for you?’
‘Well, I must consider the point,’ answered Tor, with a smile. ‘She is wonderfully young for her years, and I’m not at all sure that she couldn’t outwalk you, even now, Maud, and I know she could beat you at tennis. However, we will make up our minds on that subject later; and in the meantime you don’t mind my asking her here?’
‘As if I ever minded anything you did, Phil!’ laughed Maud. ‘I shouldn’t mind if you turned the whole house into a menagerie, and brought up young lions in the drawing-room, if only you’d stay yourself and keep us in order. Everything is so flat and stale when you go away. I can’t think how auntie and I ever lived without you!’
‘Well,’ returned Tor, with a smile that showed genuine satisfaction, ‘if you don’t mind who I am, or what I do, so long as I remain upon the spot, I have not much to fear.’