A few minutes later there was a knock at her door, and the maid told her a gentleman had called to see her.
“A gentleman?” asked Paddy in surprise. “What is his name?”
“I’m afraid I didn’t catch it,” the maid answered. “It was a long name.”
“Are you sure he asked for me?”
“Yes.”
“Where is he?”
“In the drawing-room. Mr Basil has gone out, and Mrs Adair is in the master’s surgery.”
Paddy smoothed her hair and bathed her eyes, feeling very curious, but when she walked into the drawing-room her visitor saw at a glance that she had been crying.
“Mr Masterman!” she exclaimed in glad surprise, and Ted came forward eagerly enough. After the first greetings, however, there was a slightly awkward pause.
“I only heard about everything last week,” said Ted at last. “My aunt is a very bad correspondent. I need hardly say how her letter shocked me.”