Mr. Mainwaring hastily picked up the evening paper and enshrouded himself in its folds. Lady Adela feebly signalled to Sylvia for the smelling-salts.
"A perfectly appalling young man!" she announced.
"And a perfectly sweet little girl!" quoth loyal Connie.
CHAPTER XV
A DAY OF CALM REFLECTION
I
At half-past eight next morning Connie Carmyle, wearing a tweed coat and skirt and neat brown brogues, came whistling downstairs, intent upon a constitutional before breakfast.
Upon the sofa in front of the hall-fire, self-consciously perusing a Sunday newspaper, sat a large man of slightly sheepish appearance. At the sight of Connie he rose guiltily to his feet. Mrs. Carmyle embraced him in a motherly fashion.
"And may I ask what you are doing here, my man?" she enquired.
"Finished things off last night after all," replied her husband; "so thought I might as well run down this morning and spend the day."