She entered the drawing-room, followed by Gertrude and—Mr. Percy Hungerford. Captain Dan, remaining to close the door, came last.
“John,” said Serena proudly, “we want you to meet our cousin, Mr. Hungerford. Percy, this is John.”
John and Hungerford exchanged looks. The latter gentleman extended a gloved hand. “Charmed,” he observed.
John expressed pleasure at the meeting. The pair shook hands.
“So—so Cousin Percy came home with you, did he?” inquired Daniel. “That was kind of unexpected, wasn't it?”
Mr. Hungerford himself answered.
“Why,” he declared, “not altogether, on my part I hoped for the pleasure. It seemed rather rough for Miss Dott and her mother to come alone, and so I hung about until the affair was over.”
“He had a carriage all ready for us,” declared Serena. “It was so thoughtful of him.”
“Not at all. Great pleasure, really.”
Gertrude made the next remark.