Nance refused to look up.
"Nance, you're cross!" Her voice was less sure—less confident.
Nance caught the tone of hesitancy, and turned quickly round.
"I wish Walter had driven through the park ten minutes ago," she said. "I do—I really, really do."
Clodagh's face flamed, and she drew away from her sister.
"And I wish——" she began hotly. Then she paused.
The door of the drawing-room was thrown open; and Gore was announced.
For one instant, Clodagh stood hesitating with a new and charming diffidence; the next, all thoughts of self were blotted out by the consciousness of his presence—his bright, strong presence, typified by his frank eyes, his clear, healthy skin, his close-cropped fair hair. With a little exclamation of greeting, she hurried towards him.
In quick, warm response, he took both her hands.
"Well!" he said—"well! It's good to see you! How splendid you look! And Nance, too!" He turned to the window with quiet cordiality.