But the stolid Southerley retained enough composure to say,—
“I beg your pardon, but—er—er—won’t you let us know your name? You see, as the responsible guardians of the child, we ought to be able to say in a moment, if we are asked, in whose care we’ve placed it.”
The lady stopped in the doorway, laughed in some confusion, and answered hurriedly,—
“Oh—oh, yes, of course. My name is Merriman—Miss Merriman. Good-night.”
The next moment she was gone.
The three men went back to the fireplace in complete silence. It was a fitting climax, this visit of the new beauty, to a wonderful day.
Repton broke the spell. Stretching his arms and drawing forth a deep sigh, he said,—
“Well, of all—!”
And then he paused.
Southerley pulled a chair up to the fire, arranged his feet over the fender to the exclusion of his companions, and became sentimental.