Gertie, flushed scarlet with shame, and Miss Adrian changed colour.
The step had startled her, and she felt a sudden terror. It might be Heckett coming upstairs, and she felt that a trying interview was before her.
The parrot had recognized the step first. It was Heckett sure enough, but not Heckett alone. The old dog-fancier came marching into the room, followed by a gentleman Gertie had never seen before.
It was so unusual for her grandfather to come home before the afternoon when he went out, that until she saw his face Gertie hardly believed it could be he.
Her cheeks were still crimson with the blushes Polly had raised, but she had been reared in an atmosphere of deception, and quick as thought she picked up a canary-cage and began to extol the beauties of the occupant to Miss Adrian.
‘I think you’ll like this one, ma’am,’ she said. ‘It’s a capital singer.’ Then, turning to her grandfather, she said, innocently, ‘This lady wants a canary, grandfather; this is as good a one as we have, isn’t it?
‘Yes,’ growled the old man; ‘the gal knows her business, ma’am,’
He eyed Ruth as suspiciously as if she had been a female detective.
Ruth was looking over the canaries in the corner as Heckett and his companion entered, but when the old man spoke to her she turned round. Then, for the first time, the stranger and she stood face to face.
The gentleman was the first to speak.