"Hullo, you two," Roddy said, "you do look cosy! Talkin' secrets, or will you put up with a man?"
"Oh! Roddy," said Nita Raseley, "why, of course. Rachel's only just come down, hasn't been any time for secrets. Come and get warm."
Room was made for him. Rachel smiled at him as she gave him his tea. "Well, Roddy, what have you been doing? I've been trying to write letters and Nita's been abusing a novel I lent her. I hope you've been better employed——"
"I've been botherin' around with Nugent over those two horses he bought last week. And—oh! I say, Rachel, you'll come over to Hawes to-morrow, won't you?"
"You know I can't. I've got Miss Crale coming to luncheon——"
"Oh, I say! Put her off——"
"Can't—I've put her off before and she doesn't deserve to be badly treated——"
"Oh! dash it! But I've gone and wired. The Rockingtons won't like my changin'——"
"Well, don't change—you and Nita go over——"
"No, but you know we'd always arranged to go over together. You see, I felt sure you'd put old Miss Crale on to another day. She won't mind——"