“Sh—sh—” whispered Mrs. Winstone, and she sprang to her feet.
Mrs. Edis stood in the terrace doorway leaning on her stick. She looked like an allegory of the past, the uncompromising disillusioned past, which has come in contact with none of the bridges that connect with the present. Her keen contemptuous gaze had just lit upon Fanny and Tay, when the company, made aware of her presence, rose precipitately, and were presented by Mrs. Winstone.
“I bid you all welcome to my house,” said Mrs. Edis, formally.
Fanny had hastily marshalled Tay into the circle. Mrs. Edis favored him with a piercing look which gave him a sensation of acute discomfort.
“Good lord!” he thought. “Here’s an enemy worthy of any man’s mettle. What a family!”
Mrs. Winstone almost laughed aloud as she met her sister’s glance of disgust. It was long since she had enjoyed herself so thoroughly. To outwit Jane and embroil everybody else was better for the nerves than mere vegetating.
Mrs. Edis turned to Fanny.
“Where is Julia?”
“I don’t know, Grandmother.”
“Go and find her. She must not appear to want in hospitality.”