Reynold started and drew back.
"Oh, thank you!" he said, with a short laugh. If he had been permitted to continue his first remark, he would have said, "but as unpleasant-tempered a gentleman as you could find in a day's journey."
The words had been so literally on his lips that he could hardly realise that they had not been uttered when Mr. Hayes spoke.
For the moment the likeness had been complete. Then he saw how it was, laughed, and said—
"Oh, thank you."
But he flashed an uneasy glance at Barbara, who was lingering near. Was he really like that pale, bitter-lipped portrait? He fancied that her face would tell him, but she was looking fixedly at Anthony Rothwell.
"Mind you are not late for dinner, Barbara," said her uncle quickly.
She woke to radiant animation.
"I won't be," she said. "But if you are going to introduce Mr. Harding to all the pictures first——"