"But it's not right to borrow money, and not pay it back!" faltered Janet.
"Of course I'm going to pay it back! Good Lord, a pretty opinion my own daughter has of me, I will say! Now, you get this, my girl! When I want you to poke your nose into my business, I'll tell you! Until then, keep it out!"
Janet was too well accustomed to this rough form of address to be hurt by it. She merely blinked at him, and said: "Yes, father. Will they want tea? Because it's Florence's half-day."
"I suppose you're just capable of making tea without assistance? God knows what other use you are!"
"Yes, only if you'd told me yesterday I could have made a cake. I'm afraid there isn't much."
"No, there wouldn't be," said her parent sardonically. "Cut some sandwiches, or something."
"We might have tea in the garden," said Janet, as though this would compensate for the meagre nature of the repast.
Her father intimated that she might set the tea-table where she chose, and added that he had no desire to include his son in the party.
As Alan had expressed his intention of starving before he ate another meal at the Dower House, Janet did not think that he would appear again until suppertime. She went in search of him presently, but found that he had left the house. White went out into the garden, and peace once more descended, so that Janet was able to devote her attention to the writing of her weekly letter to her tea-planter.
She was one of those persons who could, without apparent effort, fill any number of sheets with harmless inanities, and she had not by any means come to the end of all she had to say, when the clock in the hall struck four, and recalled her to her duties. She put away her writing materials, and went into the kitchen to make scones for tea. She was still engaged on this task when White shouted to know whether she was asleep, or meant to prepare for the coming of his guests. He did not show the least gratitude when she hurried out to tell him of her activities in the kitchen, but remarked, with perfect truth, that her hair was coming down, and that her nose was shining.