After luncheon Philip, calling downstairs through a cloud of steam that he was going out to the post, took up the letters and his cap and ran out of the house, down the short gravel-sweep, and up the road.
Twenty minutes later he might have been observed diligently scouring Hampstead Heath in search of a blue cotton frock and a cérise leather belt.
II
"Hallo, Phil!" remarked Miss Falconer, hastily crumpling up her handkerchief into a moist ball and stuffing it into her pocket. Her back had been turned, and she had not noticed his approach.
Philip climbed up on the gate beside her.
"Tell me what you have been doing since I saw you last," commanded Peggy briskly.
"I have been helping Uncle Joseph," said Philip, rather reluctantly. He was not anxious to be drawn into details upon this topic.
"Uncle Joseph?" The little girl nodded her head with an air of great wisdom. "I have been talking to Mother about him."
"What did you tell her?"
"I told her what you told me, about his not liking women; and I asked her why she thought it was."